This was happening in NHL 24 as well. I still can't figure out why or how it decides it or player progress. In ways I feel it's RNG but I'm sure there is some logic to it. I'd say it's cause of poor play but that isn't always the case as for my experience (it's not xfactor related) but I had a med elite prospect have an average to less then good season in my franchise where other prospects who were drafted higher in the same draft (on my team), had better stats overall + better stating overall but didn't change other then a minor stat boost (1 point more for both) but the player who has a mediocre season (which some minuses in player progress all year) went from medium elite to low franchise in that same season.
I turn morale off as well, as it's not being functioning correctly for years ( I think if it is on that may affect some of it though).
