EA Sports has officially started adding the 2026 rookie class to the Madden NFL 27 Ratings Database.
Rather than simply rewarding draft position, EA placed several defenders and offensive linemen ahead of No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza.
That approach is not necessarily wrong. A player’s combine performance should heavily influence physical attributes such as speed, acceleration, agility, jumping and strength. However, overall ratings must also account for college production, positional value, technique, football awareness and how prepared a prospect appears to play immediately.
Combine testing alone does not determine NFL success. The fairest evaluation considers the testing numbers, college production, game film and projected role together.
Madden NFL 27’s Highest-Rated Rookies
| Player | Team | Position | Madden OVR | Underground Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jeremiyah Love | Arizona Cardinals | RB | 82 | Correct |
| Caleb Downs | Dallas Cowboys | S | 82 | Correct |
| David Bailey | New York Jets | EDGE | 81 | Correct |
| Rueben Bain Jr. | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | EDGE | 80 | Correct |
| Arvell Reese | New York Giants | LB/EDGE | 79 | Correct |
| Mansoor Delane | Kansas City Chiefs | CB | 79 | Correct |
| Akheem Mesidor | Los Angeles Chargers | EDGE | 79 | Correct |
| Spencer Fano | Cleveland Browns | OT | 79 | Correct |
| Malachi Lawrence | Dallas Cowboys | EDGE | 78 | Slightly Low |
| Francis Mauigoa | New York Giants | OT | 78 | Correct |
| Sonny Styles | Washington Commanders | LB | 78 | Too Low |
| Fernando Mendoza | Las Vegas Raiders | QB | 74 | Slightly Low |
The top group is led by Jeremiyah Love and Caleb Downs at 82 overall, followed by David Bailey at 81 and Rueben Bain Jr. at 80. Only four rookies currently sit at 80 overall or higher.
Jeremiyah Love — 82 Overall
Combine Numbers and College Production
Love measured approximately 6 feet and 212 pounds and ran an official 4.36-second 40-yard dash. He did not complete the vertical or broad jump, but his speed and position drills confirmed the explosiveness already visible on film.
At Notre Dame, Love rushed for 1,372 yards and 18 touchdowns during his final season and won the Doak Walker Award.
Verdict: EA Got It Right
An 82 overall is high for an unproven NFL running back, but Love earned it. He possesses verified breakaway speed, receiving potential and legitimate three-down ability.
His Madden speed and acceleration should immediately rank among the best at his position. The only reason not to place him higher is that his vision, pass protection and consistency against NFL defenses remain projections.
Madden Underground Recommended Rating: 82 Overall
Caleb Downs — 82 Overall
Combine Numbers and College Production
Downs measured just under 6 feet and approximately 206 pounds. He chose not to complete the athletic testing portion of the combine, meaning his rating is based primarily on film, production and football intelligence rather than verified workout numbers.
Downs won the Jim Thorpe Award and Lott Trophy and was viewed as one of the most polished defensive players in the class. His recognition skills, tackling, coverage ability and effectiveness near the line of scrimmage separated him from the other defensive backs.
Verdict: EA Got It Right
Downs may not possess the rare verified testing profile of Sonny Styles or David Bailey, but Madden ratings should not be based only on the combine.
Awareness, pursuit, tackling, zone coverage and play recognition are major components of a safety’s overall rating. Downs was arguably the safest defensive prospect in the draft.
An 82 overall is aggressive, but defensible.
Madden Underground Recommended Rating: 82 Overall
David Bailey — 81 Overall
Combine Numbers and College Production
Bailey measured approximately 6-foot-4 and 251 pounds with 33¾-inch arms. He ran an official 4.50-second 40-yard dash, recorded approximately a 35-inch vertical jump and produced a 10-foot-9 broad jump.
He recorded 14.5 sacks in 2025, earned Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year honors and became a unanimous All-American.
Verdict: EA Got It Right
Bailey has the ideal combination of production, bend, explosiveness and verified speed. His run defense and ability to consistently hold the edge are not as advanced as his pass-rushing ability, which keeps the 81 from becoming an 83 or 84.
Among the rookie edge rushers, Bailey has the strongest argument for the highest launch rating.
Madden Underground Recommended Rating: 81 Overall
Rueben Bain Jr. — 80 Overall
Combine Numbers and College Production
Bain measured approximately 6-foot-2 and 263 pounds. While his arm length was considered shorter than ideal for an NFL edge defender, his college production and power consistently showed up on film.
He finished the 2025 season with 15.5 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks, winning the Ted Hendricks Award. His college career included 20.5 sacks and 33.5 tackles for loss.
Verdict: EA Got It Right
Bain was one of the strongest and most technically reliable defensive linemen in the class. His arm length and incomplete athletic testing reasonably prevent him from receiving the same speed-based rating advantage as Bailey.
His power moves, block shedding, strength and tackling should be better than his pure speed attributes. An 80 overall reflects that balance.
Madden Underground Recommended Rating: 80 Overall
Arvell Reese — 79 Overall
Combine Numbers and College Production
Reese measured approximately 6-foot-4 and 241 pounds and ran an official 4.46-second 40-yard dash.
His final season at Ohio State included 69 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks. He also earned Big Ten Linebacker of the Year honors.
Verdict: EA Got It Right
Reese is an outstanding athlete with the versatility to play off the ball or rush from the edge. However, his diagnosis, angles and complete pass-rush plan were still developing when he entered the league.
A 79 overall rewards his athletic traits without pretending he is already a complete NFL defender.
Madden Underground Recommended Rating: 79 Overall
Mansoor Delane — 79 Overall
Combine Numbers and College Production
Delane measured approximately 5-foot-11 and 187 pounds. He did not complete the full combine testing schedule but reportedly ran a 4.38-second 40-yard dash during his pro-day workout.
He recorded 45 tackles and two interceptions in 2025 after producing four interceptions during the previous season at Virginia Tech.
Verdict: EA Got It Right
Delane’s rating is based more on coverage tape than raw statistics. Cornerback is also one of the most difficult positions for rookies to play immediately, making a 79 overall a strong sign of respect.
His Madden man-coverage and press ratings should be better than his awareness and play-recognition ratings at launch.
Madden Underground Recommended Rating: 79 Overall
Akheem Mesidor — 79 Overall
Combine Numbers and College Production
Mesidor measured approximately 6-foot-3 and 259 pounds but did not participate in the major athletic tests at the combine.
That places more weight on his excellent final season at Miami, where he recorded 12.5 sacks, 17.5 tackles for loss and four forced fumbles. He also earned first-team All-ACC and second-team All-American honors.
Verdict: EA Got It Right
Mesidor has some of the best recent production in the group, but the absence of verified testing creates questions about how aggressively EA should rate his physical attributes.
A 79 overall appropriately rewards his pass-rushing production without putting him ahead of Bailey or Bain.
Madden Underground Recommended Rating: 79 Overall
Spencer Fano — 79 Overall
Combine Numbers and College Production
Fano ran a 4.91-second 40-yard dash, including an excellent 1.72-second 10-yard split. He also recorded a 32-inch vertical jump and a 9-foot-3 broad jump.
His 40-yard dash was tied for second among the participating offensive linemen. He also won the 2025 Outland Trophy as the nation’s top interior lineman.
Verdict: EA Got It Right
Athletic offensive linemen can be difficult to represent through an overall rating. Fano’s movement skills are outstanding, but questions about his arm length and whether he will remain at tackle reduce his initial ceiling.
His acceleration, agility and movement-based run-blocking ratings should stand out, while his pass-blocking awareness should develop through future roster updates.
Madden Underground Recommended Rating: 79 Overall
Malachi Lawrence — 78 Overall
Combine Numbers and College Production
Lawrence ran an official 4.52-second 40-yard dash at approximately 6-foot-4 and 253 pounds.
He finished his UCF career with 20 sacks, becoming only the 10th player in school history to reach that mark.
Verdict: Slightly Underrated
Lawrence combines proven production with legitimate NFL athleticism. His 78 overall rating is not disrespectful, but there is very little separating his résumé from several players rated 79.
A one-point increase would better reflect his verified speed and pass-rushing production.
Madden Underground Recommended Rating: 79 Overall
Francis Mauigoa — 78 Overall
Combine Numbers and College Production
Mauigoa measured approximately 6-foot-5 and 329 pounds and started all 42 games of his Miami career at right tackle.
His strengths include experience, balance, pass-set footwork and an understanding of pocket depth. His primary weakness is excessive leaning, which can create problems against counter moves.
Verdict: EA Got It Right
Mauigoa may eventually become a better NFL player than his initial Madden rating suggests, but his evaluation is based more on reliability and projection than rare athletic testing.
A 78 overall gives him starter-level potential while leaving room for development.
Madden Underground Recommended Rating: 78 Overall
Sonny Styles — 78 Overall
Combine Numbers and College Production
Styles measured approximately 6-foot-5 and 244 pounds and then produced one of the most impressive workouts of the 2026 NFL Combine.
- 4.46-second 40-yard dash
- 43.5-inch vertical jump
- 11-foot-2 broad jump
- 94 athleticism score
- 95 overall prospect score
His 43.5-inch vertical was reportedly the highest by an off-ball linebacker at the combine since 2003 and the best by any player standing at least 6-foot-4 during that period.
Styles also produced 100 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss and six sacks during his final full college season after transitioning from safety to linebacker.
Verdict: EA Got This One Wrong
Styles being rated below four other rookie defenders at 79 overall is difficult to defend when his physical attributes and production are considered together.
He is taller and more explosive than nearly every linebacker in the game, has experience playing safety, can cover in space and posted legitimate linebacker production.
His awareness may need development, but Madden’s rating formula should strongly reward his speed, acceleration, jumping ability, tackling range and coverage versatility.
Styles does not necessarily need an 82 overall, but he should not be outside the top group.
Madden Underground Recommended Rating: 80 or 81 Overall
Fernando Mendoza — 74 Overall
Combine Numbers and College Production
Mendoza measured approximately 6-foot-5 and 236 pounds. His draft profile praised his accuracy, rhythm, mechanics and third-down execution while raising questions about his average arm velocity, improvisational ability and movement outside the structure of the offense.
During his 2025 season at Indiana, Mendoza completed 72 percent of his passes for 3,535 yards, 41 touchdowns and only six interceptions.
He led Indiana to a 16-0 season, a national championship and won the Heisman Trophy.
Verdict: Slightly Underrated
Mendoza should not automatically be the highest-rated rookie simply because he was selected first overall. Quarterback ratings are more complicated than other positions, with awareness, throw power, pressure accuracy, play action and movement all influencing the final number.
Still, a Heisman-winning national champion who completed 72 percent of his passes should probably begin higher than 74 overall.
His physical ceiling may be lower than some recent No. 1 picks, but his accuracy, production and championship résumé support a rating of at least 75 or 76.
Madden Underground Recommended Rating: 76 Overall
Final Verdict: Did EA Get the Rookie Ratings Right?
Mostly—but not completely.
EA correctly identified Jeremiyah Love, Caleb Downs, David Bailey and Rueben Bain Jr. as the safest candidates to make immediate NFL impacts.
The ratings for Arvell Reese, Mansoor Delane, Akheem Mesidor, Spencer Fano and Francis Mauigoa also fall within reasonable ranges.
The biggest miss is Sonny Styles. His combination of size, 4.46 speed, historic jumping ability, coverage experience and 100-tackle production deserves at least an 80 overall.
Fernando Mendoza is the other notable disagreement. A 74 makes sense if EA is concerned about his arm strength and ability to create outside the structure of the offense, but his accuracy, production and championship résumé deserved slightly more respect.
Madden Underground’s Corrected Rookie Rankings
- Caleb Downs — 82 Overall
- Jeremiyah Love — 82 Overall
- David Bailey — 81 Overall
- Sonny Styles — 81 Overall
- Rueben Bain Jr. — 80 Overall
- Arvell Reese — 79 Overall
- Mansoor Delane — 79 Overall
- Akheem Mesidor — 79 Overall
- Spencer Fano — 79 Overall
- Malachi Lawrence — 79 Overall
- Francis Mauigoa — 78 Overall
- Fernando Mendoza — 76 Overall
EA’s Overall Rookie Ratings Grade: B+
The broad order is strong, and EA did a good job avoiding the mistake of ranking players strictly according to draft position.
However, Styles’ physical profile is too exceptional for a 78 overall rating, while Mendoza’s polished college performance deserved slightly more respect.
What do you think? Did EA get the rookie ratings right, or is your favorite rookie being underrated? Join the conversation and follow Madden Underground for more Madden NFL 27 ratings coverage, competitive Madden news and community updates.