Madden 26 Franchise Feedback Review (For Madden 27)
Franchise Mode Feedback
Understanding that EA will most likely wont review this feedback, I wanted to share my perspective as someone who has played Madden’s Franchise mode for a long time.
After spending a significant amount of time playing Franchise mode, it’s clear that this year’s Madden has taken a positive step forward in several areas. There have been meaningful improvements that show progress toward making Franchise a deeper and more enjoyable experience.
However, there are still areas where the mode could be improved to better reflect the strategy, realism, and long-term depth that many Franchise players are looking for. The following feedback outlines several features, fixes, and quality-of-life improvements that I believe would strengthen Franchise mode and improve the overall Madden experience.
These suggestions focus on areas that could make roster management, player development, gameplay realism, and immersion feel closer to the real NFL while also making Franchise mode more engaging over multiple seasons.
Stat Tracking & Player Evaluation Improvements
Franchise mode needs deeper statistical tracking to better reflect real NFL performance and improve player evaluation.
Pass Breakups (PBU)
Rename the current Pass Deflections stat to PBU (Pass Breakups) to match official NFL terminology.
Defensive Back Advanced Stats
Yards Allowed
Catches Allowed
These stats would allow users to better evaluate cornerbacks and safeties.
Defensive Line Advanced Stats
QB Hits
Pressures
Practice Squad Improvements: Add an option that allows veteran players to be placed on the practice squad like in real life. This would provide more roster flexibility and strategic depth.
Injured Reserve Bug Fix: There is currently a bug where players placed on IR cannot always be activated even after their injury period ends.
Equipment Updates
Mouthpieces
Baggy long sleeves
Hand warmers
Pads
Camera & Presentation Improvements: Add more broadcast-style camera options for gameplay and improve camera options for users who prefer simulation-style Coach Mode.
CPU Trade & Roster Logic:
CPU trade logic
CPU player release logic
CPU draft logic
Running Back Pass Blocking Issue: Running backs sometimes fail to engage defenders in pass protection and allow rushers to run straight past them.
Quarterback Gameplay Additions:
Improved QB Sneaking
Add animations where quarterbacks dive forward over the pile, similar to real NFL QB sneaks.
Pump Fake While Scrambling
Allow quarterbacks to pump fake while running outside the pocket.
Weather-Based Equipment Presets: Add automatic equipment presets based on game conditions such as cold weather games, rain games, and prime-time games.
Currently, coaches and players sometimes wear unrealistic gear (such as short sleeves in snow games), which breaks immersion.
Formation Visibility Setting (Online Franchise): Add a setting that allows users to disable seeing the opponent’s formation.
Rookie Draft Class Improvements: Draft prospects should have deeper background information including:
Total college snaps played
Combine invite status
Expanded scouting reports
In-Game Presentation Improvements: Add more broadcast-style stat updates during games such as:
CB has allowed 2 catches for 18 yards today
QB has been pressured 8 times
Super Bowl Champion Recognition: Currently, the player profile sometimes shows “Super Bowl Champion” only for quarterbacks. This recognition should apply to all players on the roster regardless of position.
Any player who wins a Super Bowl should have “Super Bowl Champion” listed in their career profile.
Smarter AI Logic: Overall AI decision-making should be improved across both gameplay and franchise systems including:
Play calling
Clock management
Trades and roster moves
Player development
Scheme & Coach-Based Abilities: Abilities should be tied more closely to team schemes and coaching staff. Currently every team can access the same top-tier abilities, which reduces team identity.
For example, if a team historically develops offensive linemen well, their coaching staff could have development XP boosts for offensive linemen.
Expanded Mentor Tag System: The Mentor tag already exists but only applies to a small number of players. The system should expand so players automatically gain the Mentor tag after a certain number of years in the league or after reaching career milestones.
Team History Section: Add a Team History feature similar to the League History tab where users can view past season records, playoff results, Super Bowl appearances, awards, and key team statistics.
Individual Stat Upgrade System: Allow users to upgrade individual player attributes directly instead of only improving broad skill categories.
For example, a system similar to staff points where users could invest points into specific attributes such as QB accuracy or RB pass blocking.
Draft Board Customization Improvements: Franchise mode should bring back the ability to fully customize the draft board order similar to older Madden titles.
Users should be able to manually move prospects up and down the draft board to create their own ranking system.
Team Lineup Presentation: Bring back full team lineup presentation graphics like older Madden games featured. Before the game or when a unit takes the field, show on-screen graphics displaying each team’s starters.
Player Analysis Should Use Stats, Not Just Overall: When clicking on a player and viewing the analysis section, rankings and comparisons currently appear to rely mostly on Overall (OVR) ratings instead of actual on-field performance.
For Madden 27, this analysis should be based more on real performance such as season stats, recent games, and league rankings so players are evaluated based on how they are actually performing.
Rework or Remove Certain Abilities in Franchise: Some abilities feel pointless or too powerful and should be removed or redesigned, especially for franchise mode. Nothing in football should be guaranteed, and some abilities create unrealistic outcomes.
Some abilities make sense, such as Quickdraw, since quarterbacks often develop faster releases as they gain experience. Another good example is Sleight of Hand. In franchise mode, it could increase the success rate of pump fakes overall instead of only working against zone coverage.
On the other hand, abilities like No Look Deadeye do not make sense for franchise mode. No quarterback should have perfect accuracy on all cross-body throws up to 20 yards. Nothing in football is perfect, and abilities should reflect realistic advantages rather than guaranteed results.
Abilities could also be more progression-based, similar to coach abilities with bronze, silver, gold, and platinum tiers. Players could upgrade these abilities over time based on their performance, making development feel more earned and realistic.
