As Justin Jefferson and Saquon Barkley might know, the video game scene is starting to heat up. While major fall releases are many months away, the season of video game announcements is almost here.
Among the sea of new titles is expected to be “Madden NFL 26,” and with that comes a new face of the box or thumbnail, depending on the method of purchase. There are plenty of candidates this year, and here’s a closer look at the top five.
The Potential Faces of Madden NFL 26, Including Saquon Barkley and Justin Jefferson
#5 – Ja’Marr Chase, WR, Cincinnati Bengals
Ja’Marr Chase is currently the highest-paid receiver in the NFL in terms of the total value of his contract per Over the Cap, and that could lead to the de facto bonus of his face getting plastered on the cover of the game. Chase has been a prominent figure in the NFL for multiple seasons, and getting on the cover seems like a natural progression for his career.
#4 – Patrick Mahomes, QB, Kansas City Chiefs
Patrick Mahomes has been on the cover of Madden before, so this wouldn’t be a shock. Most agree it wouldn’t be the most exciting choice, especially after losing the Super Bowl, but it would be par for the course. Even with the Super Bowl loss, most agree he remains the most accomplished quarterback in the league.
#3 – Justin Jefferson, WR, Minnesota Vikings
Jefferson is, without a doubt, the face of the Vikings until J.J. McCarthy proves to be the long-term franchise quarterback. As such, getting put on the cover of the football video game is not outside the realm of possibility. Jefferson has already been to four Pro Bowls, so getting on the cover would be a popular choice by definition.
#2 – Jalen Hurts, QB, Philadelphia Eagles
Hurts is coming off a Super Bowl win, which automatically puts him on the short list to get on the Madden cover. Hurts is only one of two active quarterbacks to have vanquished Mahomes in the playoffs. That accomplishment alone puts him on a unique pedestal. Hurts also finished in the top five of PFSN’s QB+ metrics, yet another reason that supports his candidacy.
#1 – Saquon Barkley, RB, Philadelphia Eagles
At this point, the most likely candidate to emerge on the face of the video game franchise is the star Eagles running back. He has the ring, the story, and the highlight moment to prove it.
Madden used Odell Beckham Jr.’s world-famous catch as reason to make him a cover athlete (the start screen depicted his career-making one-handed grab), and Barkley’s backwards hurdle fits that mold.
