Jaguars' Travis Hunter Highest-Rated Rookie In 'Madden' In Over 10 Years

Travis Hunter might have gone No. 2 overall in the 2025 NFL Draft, but he’ll be No. 1 among the rookies in "Madden NFL 26."

The Jacksonville Jaguars' two-way star is the highest-rated rookie in "Madden NFL 26," earning an 84 overall rating for the game, EA Sports announced Wednesday. His rating is the highest for a rookie in the "Madden" series since Andrew Luck in "Madden NFL 13." The former Indianapolis Colts quarterback also had an 84 overall rating, while Reggie Bush had the highest overall rating ever for a rookie in the game at 87.

Hunter will be featured as a two-way star in "Madden NFL 26," just as the Jaguars plan to use him in real life. Users will be able to play with Hunter at wide receiver and cornerback, with restrictions being lifted on the depth chart settings for him. 

Hunter will also have "some exclusive benefits" in the game, according to EA Sports. He’s the first rookie in the "Madden" series to ever have custom abilities made for him, making it so that the impact from the "Wear & Tear" feature will be less draining on him than it would be for other players that users try to play with on both sides of the ball. Still, Hunter will feel the effects of the "Wear & Tear" feature if you try to play him on every snap. 

Travis Hunter is the highest-rated rookie in "Madden NFL 26." (Photo courtesy of EA Sports.)

So far in training camp, Hunter has split time at both wide receiver and cornerback. However, he’s spent each day exclusively playing one position rather than splitting time between the two.

Hunter’s ability to shine on both sides of the ball also made him one of the best players in college football at Colorado last season, and the winner of the Heisman Trophy. He had 1,258 receiving yards to go