Christian McCaffrey is officially the latest NFL superstar to grace the Madden cover. It’s hard to argue against pro football’s best running back joining an exclusive fraternity of do-it-all backfield dynamos. That’s what happens when you play for an incredible team like the San Francisco 49ers.
This selection raises a clearly very important question about the video game’s future that we should tackle right now: Who will be on the next Madden cover?
There’s no shortage of great options. You’ve got an established star quarterback. You’ve got a hyped-up rookie poised to revitalize a dormant franchise. You’ve even got a host of elite playmakers tailor-made for the video game treatment with their unique blends of personality and explosive game-breaking ability.
Let’s rank the five most likely Madden cover athletes in the NFL.
5. Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals
The flashy Chase has been in the conversation for the NFL’s best playmaker every single year of his young career. The Bengals star already has nearly 4,000 career receiving yards while amassing almost 30 touchdowns. He’s also a dynamite playoff performer for a Cincinnati team that expects to play into late January.
4. Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears
Williams has yet to throw a single pass in a game, and I think his NFL hype should be tempered … for now. After his upcoming rookie season, where Williams is set up to succeed and shine as a first-year signal caller, all bets are off. The first real superstar Bears quarterback in decades would be a marketing dream.
3. Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs
I’m honestly kind of surprised Kelce wasn’t on this year’s Madden cover. He’s arguably the greatest tight end of all time, he’s the second-best player on a bona fide Chiefs dynasty team, and now he’s dating one of the most famous and successful women in the world. Kelce is getting up there in NFL years, but he’s aging like a fine wine.
2. Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals
An injury-riddled 2023 season aside, we can’t forget Joe “Cool.” At his best, Burrow elevates the Bengals into a heavyweight Super Bowl contender. He’s also a magnetic personality who oozes charm and charisma.
1. Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings
A receiver has appeared on the Madden cover just four times in the game’s history. If anyone were going to join that exclusive club, the obvious selection would be Jefferson, the most productive NFL receiver for his age (24) ever. The 2022 Offensive Player of the Year is a matchup problem for every single defense in pro football every week. It helps that he’s impeccably likable, too.
