Cam Ward. For those of you who may have forgotten, the former Miami Hurricanes starting quarterback was drafted with the #1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. He was the best prospect in all of college football, and was selected to be the face of the Tennessee Titans franchise for the foreseeable future.

The problem? It’s the fact that EVEN THOUGH Ward was the top pick in the draft, the creators at EA Sports didn’t think he was worthy enough to have a TOP TEN rating amongst rookies in the latest installment of their Madden video game series.

Madden NFL 26 rookie ratings:

– Travis Hunter: 84
– Ashton Jeanty: 81
– Mykel Williams: 78
– Tetairoa McMillan: 77
– Cam Skattebo: 73
– Cam Ward: 71 😳

Full rookie list comes out later today…pic.twitter.com/XTkCY0Pmk4

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) July 30, 2025

No Cam Ward on here is nuts pic.twitter.com/F8al6kFCsC

— Football (@BostonConnr) July 30, 2025

Ward, a 2024 Heisman Trophy finalist, was the first Miami Hurricane to be a finalist for the award since Ken Dorsey and Willis McGahee in 2002. In 2024, the senior signal caller was named the ACC Offensive Player of the Year AND the ACC Player of the Year; posting a stat-line consisting of…..

67.2% Cmp., 4313 Yds, 39 TDs, 7 INTs, 172.2 RATE

He had a year for the ages in Coral Gables, helping Mario Cristobal’s squad to become the 18th ranked team in the country with a 10-3 record. But in his first year in the league……he’s not even considered a Top-10 rookie by the folks who make the biggest football game in the world?

That…..that is the biggest slap in the face to every football fan, AND to every player who’s ever laced up a pair of cleats. Sure, Madden Ratings don’t really matter much when it comes to real X’s and O’s. Sure, a low rating in a video game isn’t going to cause a guy like Ward to average four picks per game throughout his rookie season.

But when the #1 pick in the draft reportedly has the LOWEST RATING in the last 24 years of Madden?

#Titans QB Cam Ward is officially a 72 overall in the new Madden videogame.

The lowest Madden rating for a No. 1 pick in 24 years.

— Justin M (@JustinM_NFL) July 30, 2025

You KNOW there’s something wrong!

I mean COME ON, what are we doing here? There is NO REASON why the #1 overall pick in the draft should be left out of the Top-10 rookies list. I get that it wasn’t the strongest draft class for quarterbacks; but for him to be BELOW the likes of Mykel Williams? Or Tetairoa McMillan? Or even CAM SKATTEBO?!?! (Who was a fourth round pick, mind you). THAT is a crime. THAT is highway robbery!

So because of that, to all of the folks who decide these ratings……I need you to get a grip on reality. I get that you’re a bunch of pocket protector clad characters who think you control the world. But shenanigans like THIS? They are the reason why people are starting to hate your game.

I get that Travis Hunter is the “sexy pick” in the game, which is why he gets a high overall. But the Cam Ward hate? It’s inexcusable! Screw this game, I’m buying CFB 26.

But in the end, as always….what do I know? I’m just a guy from the Midwest, with a beer and a laptop, trying to make sense of this world.