Taking control of your favorite team within any sporting title is usually what fans gravitate towards when loading into a Franchise mode, especially within Madden.
However, for fans of powerhouses such as the New England Patriots or the LA Rams, this can be rather easy, as they’re among the highest-rated teams within the game and don’t pose much of a challenge to take to the top.
This is why some of the most fun can be found in rebuilding one of the weaker teams within the league, and we’re going to dive into some of the best ones to rebuild within Madden 23.
Houston Texans - 74 OVR
We’re going to start this list with the worst-rated team within Madden 23 at the onset of the game’s release, and for good reason.
There isn’t much to love about the Texans, there aren’t many skilled players at either end of the ball, and their QB1, Davis Mills, hasn’t shown much since being drafted by the team.
So, if you’re looking for the ultimate challenge, well, the Texans are the way to go. This rebuild will take some time to get underway and will certainly test your wits as a GM/Owner. But, making careful decisions regarding roster construction will go far within this team!
Detroit Lions - 78 OVR
The new-look Lions could be one of the emerging teams in the NFL season this year, mainly due to their improvements on both ends of the ball and the promise Jared Goff has shown thus far.
Newly drafted DE Aiden Hutchinson is a monster on the defensive side of the ball and is the focal point of the Lions going forward. They also have some weapons on offense in the form of Amon-Ra St. Brown and T.J. Hockenson. It’ll still be a challenge to dethrone the Packers atop the NFC North, but there’s some promise within the core thus far.
One aspect of the Lions that is overlooked when choosing a team to rebuild is the fact that they have two first-round picks in the 2023 NFL Draft. Meaning you can use these picks to leverage some trade, or use them to improve drastically.
Chicago Bears - 78 OVR
Another NFC North team is one that, as a Bears fan, pains me to write, but they’re easily one of the worst teams within the NFL at this state going into the 2022 season.
Justin Fields is perhaps the diamond in the rough on the roster and going into this second year, it’s unknown whether or not he has enough in his arsenal to take the Bears to the next level.
The defense has been the Bear’s saving grace in the past, with Roquan Smith, Eddie Jackson, and Robert Quinn leading the way. Offense is where you will want to rebuild this team first.
Bringing Chicago back to the promise land of competitors within the NFC North is a daunting task, but some careful adjustments to skill positions such as WR and CB will be key in leading this rebuild.
Las Vegas Raiders - 83 OVR
One of the final entries coming in our list is the Las Vegas Raiders, and while they’re among the higher-rated teams among the others on our list, there’s still room for improvement.
QB Derrick Carr has finally proven he has what it takes against some of the league’s best defenses, so there shouldn’t be much improvement, if any, needed here. The problem with the Raiders comes in their linear playstyle and the lack of skilled players they have at certain positions.
Newly added 99 OVR Davante Adams was a much-needed improvement to the WR position of the Raiders. But the rebuilding task will add stars to the defense to counteract their high-flying offense.
Atlanta Falcons - 77 OVR
It’s going to feel strange for Falcons fans this year, as long-time QB Matt Ryan has moved this offseason to join the Colts, and with no real replacement set in stone as of now, there’s a clear path to rebuild here.
The team itself isn’t too far away from being a complete one, as there are some talented individuals within the roster. Second-year TE, Kyle Pitts, and the partnership of A.J. Terrell JR. and Casey Hayward JR. lead the way at CB, so the secondary doesn’t need to be changed at all.
Honestly, this is one of the easier rebuilds fans need to take on — it’s just the process of finding a stable/reliable QB to manage this roster to take them to the top.
There’s a lot to do within EA’s new football game, so be sure to dive into our Madden 23 review and let us know how you’re feeling about EA’s latest entry into the series.
Written by Nick Farrell on behalf of GLHF.
