A new year means a new set of rookies in Madden NFL 26, and this year's rookie class has some promising talent with strong development traits. Development traits in Madden NFL 26 determine a rookie player's growth potential, so it's worth focusing on the rookies with the best traits.
Not counting the normal option that most rookies have, there are three development traits that a player can have: Star, Superstar, and X-Factor. Depending on a player's development trait, they'll require less XP to gain skill points and be able to equip Superstar or X-Factor abilities to enhance their gameplay on the field. These are all the rookie development traits this year in Madden NFL 26.
Madden NFL 26 Rookie Ratings: Players Try to Predict Their Overall Score
NFL rookies predict their own OVR ratings Madden NFL 26, and some are expecting a lot of respect from the developers at EA Sports.
Madden NFL 26 Rookie Dev Traits
These are the Star, Superstar, and X-Factor rookies in Madden NFL 26.
|
Player |
Team |
Dev Trait |
|---|---|---|
|
Walter Nolen |
Cardinals |
Star |
|
Will Johnson |
Cardinals |
Star |
|
Jordan Burch |
Cardinals |
Star |
|
Jalon Walker |
Falcons |
Star |
|
James Pearce Jr. |
Falcons |
Star |
|
Xavier Watts |
Falcons |
Star |
|
Malaki Starks |
Ravens |
Star |
|
Mike Green |
Ravens |
Star |
|
Emery Jones. Jr |
Ravens |
Star |
|
Maxwell Hairston |
Bills |
Star |
|
T.J. Sanders |
Bills |
Star |
|
Landon Jackson |
Bills |
Star |
|
Tetairoa McMillan |
Panthers |
Superstar |
|
Nic Scourton |
Panthers |
Star |
|
Princely Umanmielen |
Panthers |
Star |
|
Jimmy Horn Jr. |
Panthers |
Star |
|
Colston Loveland |
Bears |
Star |
|
Luther Burden III |
Bears |
Star |
|
Ozzy Trapilo |
Bears |
Star |
|
Shemar Turner |
Bears |
Star |
|
Shemar Stewart |
Bengals |
Star |
|
Demetrius Knight Jr. |
Bengals |
Star |
|
Dylan Fairchild |
Bengals |
Star |
|
Mason Graham |
Browns |
Star |
|
Carson Schwesinger |
Browns |
Star |
|
Quinshon Judkins |
Browns |
Star |
|
Dylan Sampson |
Browns |
Star |
|
Tyler Booker |
Cowboys |
Star |
|
Donovan Ezeiruaka |
Cowboys |
Star |
|
Shavon Revel Jr. |
Cowboys |
Star |
|
Jahdae Barron |
Broncos |
Star |
|
RJ Harvey |
Broncos |
Star |
|
Pat Bryant |
Broncos |
Star |
|
Sai'vion Jones |
Broncos |
Star |
|
Tyleik Williams |
Lions |
Star |
|
Tate Ratledge |
Lions |
Star |
|
Isaac TeSlaa |
Lions |
Star |
|
Matthew Golden |
Packers |
Star |
|
Anthony Belton |
Packers |
Star |
|
Savion Williams |
Packers |
Star |
|
Jayden Higgans |
Texans |
Star |
|
Aireontae Ersery |
Texans |
Star |
|
Jaylin Noel |
Texans |
Star |
|
Tyler Warren |
Colts |
Star |
|
JT Tuimoloau |
Colts |
Star |
|
Travis Hunter |
Jaguars |
Superstar |
|
Caleb Ransaw |
Jaguars |
Star |
|
Wyatt Milum |
Jaguars |
Star |
|
Bhayshul Tuten |
Jaguars |
Star |
|
Jack Kiser |
Jaguars |
Star |
|
Josh Simmons |
Chiefs |
Star |
|
Ashton Gillotte |
Chiefs |
Star |
|
Nohl Williams |
Chiefs |
Star |
|
Omarion Hampton |
Chargers |
Star |
|
Tre Harris |
Chargers |
Star |
|
Oronde Gadsden II |
Chargers |
Star |
|
Josaiah Stewart |
Rams |
Star |
|
Ty Hamilton |
Rams |
Star |
|
Ahston Jeanty |
Raiders |
Superstar |
|
Jack Bech |
Raiders |
Star |
|
Darien Porter |
Raiders |
Star |
|
Caleb Rogers |
Raiders |
Star |
|
Charles Grant |
Raiders |
Star |
|
Dont'e Thornton Jr. |
Raiders |
Star |
|
Kenneth Grant |
Dolphins |
Star |
|
Donovan Jackson |
Vikings |
Star |
|
Tai Felton |
Vikings |
Star |
|
Will Campbell |
Patriots |
Star |
|
TreVeyon Henderson |
Patriots |
Star |
|
Kyle Williams |
Patriots |
Star |
|
Jared Wilson |
Patriots |
Star |
|
Joshua Farmer |
Patriots |
Star |
|
Kelvin Banks Jr. |
Saints |
Star |
|
Jonas Sanker |
Saints |
Star |
|
Danny Stutsman |
Saints |
Star |
|
Quincy Riley |
Saints |
Star |
|
Abdul Carter |
Giants |
Superstar |
|
Darius Alexander |
Giants |
Star |
|
Cam Skattebo |
Giants |
Star |
|
Armand Membou |
Jets |
Star |
|
Azareye'h Thomas |
Jets |
Star |
|
Arian Smith |
Jets |
Star |
|
Jihaad Campbell |
Eagles |
Star |
|
Andrew Mukuba |
Eagles |
Star |
|
Derrick Harmon |
Steelers |
Star |
|
Kaleb Johnson |
Steelers |
Star |
|
Jack Sawyer |
Steelers |
Star |
|
Grey Zabel |
Seahawks |
Star |
|
Nick Emmanwori |
Seahawks |
Star |
|
Mykel Williams |
49ers |
Star |
|
Alfred Collins |
49ers |
Star |
|
Nick Martin |
49ers |
Star |
|
Jordan Watkins |
49ers |
Star |
|
Jordan James |
49ers |
Star |
|
Emeka Egbuka |
Buccaneers |
Star |
|
Benjamin Morrison |
Buccaneers |
Star |
|
Jacob Parrish |
Buccaneers |
Star |
|
Cam Ward |
Titans |
Star |
|
Oluwafemi Oladejo |
Titans |
Star |
|
Kevin Winston Jr. |
Titans |
Star |
|
Chimere Dike |
Titans |
Star |
|
Josh Conerly Jr. |
Commanders |
Star |
|
Trey Amos |
Commanders |
Star |
As you can see from the table above, most of the good rookies in Madden NFL 26 have Star development traits, but there are a few Superstars that rise even further above the rest. Whether you're trying to pick a franchise team to rebuild or you're eyeing a certain player for trades, it's a good idea to seek out the most promising rookies with development traits that make them easier to build up.
- Released
- August 14, 2025
- Developer(s)
- EA Tiburon
- Publisher(s)
- EA
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer
- Franchise
- Madden NFL
- Platform(s)
- Steam, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Nintendo Switch 2
- Genre(s)
- Sports