Chicago Bears

These Chicago Bears players should've been the Madden 25 cover athlete

Key Pieces: QB Caleb Williams (R), HB D’Andre Swift, WRs DJ Moore/Keenan Allen/Rome Odunze, TE Cole Kmet, DE Montez Sweat, LBs TJ Edwards/Tremaine Edmunds, CB Jaylon Johnson, S Kevin Byard

Why Chicago?

You have the top rookie QB and debatably the best trio of WRs in the league to throw to. Really good LBs to plug up the middle. You love storied franchises and think the NFC N is fun thanks to the history of those teams. Fun uniform combinations, if you like bright orange.

Why not Chicago?

A lot of the vets on their key pieces list are making 8 figures, but that is acceptable when you have 5 years of rookie QB salary to play with. Chicago come December/January is not always a pretty sight for home field. You hate bright orange.

Cincinnati Bengals

Has a Bengals player ever graced the cover of 'Madden'? Looking at the game's history - Yahoo Sports

Key Pieces: QB Joe Burrrrrow, WRs Ja’Marr Chase/Tee Higgins, T’s Orlando Brown/Trent Brown, DE Sam Hubbard/Trey Hendrickson, LB Logan Wilson

Why Cincy?

You are taking this team for two reasons: Burrow and Chase, and the jerseys (and maybe because they have not one, but TWO 6’8 OTs protecting their QB.) You can decide to keep Tee Higgins as well, and build around those guys. A cap friendly team *for now*. You like bright orange.

Why not Cincy?

Defense doesn’t have a lot of star power. Chase and Higgins BOTH need new deals and they won’t come cheap. Outdoor stadium prime for terrible weather. The AFC North is personally one of my least favorite divisions of teams to play against. You hate bright orange.

Cleveland Browns

Nick Chubb Madden 25 Rating (Cleveland Browns)

Key Pieces: QB Deshaun Watson?, HB Nick Chubb, WRs Amari Cooper/Jerry Jeudy/Elijah Moore, TE David Njoku, REALLY GOOD OL, DE Myles Garrett, LBs Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah/Jordan Hicks/Devin Bush, CB Denzel Ward

Why Cleveland?

Nick Chubb is pretty good at the moment, and with the new Boom Tech in M25, he might be a problem to take down. Pretty solid at the majority of the offense, including one of the best OL in the league, if that’s your thing. Myles Garrett might literally murder a couple guys this cycle, I won’t rule it out, so if you are into that kind of stuff, he’s your guy. Great if you like the color orange.

Why not Cleveland?

You have morals? We all know Watson’s off the field issues (all 26 of them), but he did not perform well last season and you have to wonder what his attributes are going to look like. He’s making $63M a year for the next 3 seasons, and you are unable to cut him early. Almost all your best players are 29+ years old, so you are going to have some turnover pretty quickly. You hate orange.

Dallas Cowboys

MADDEN 22 NEXT GEN: CEEDEE LAMB AND THE COWBOYS TAKE DOWN THE SEAHAWKS!

Key Pieces: QBs Dak Prescott/Trey Lance, WR CeeDee Lamb, G Zach Martin/Tyler Smith, DE DeMarcus Lawrence, DTs Chauncey Golston/Mazi Smith, Edge Micah Parsons, CBs DaRon Bland/Trevon Diggs

Why Dallas?

It’s America’s Team.

I would be shocked if whoever takes the Cowboys if they don’t give the keys to Lance. CD is a top tier WR. I think they are in prime position to build on offense, and the defense will have some very strong pieces to continue to build around. Once Dak’s deal runs dry, they will open a lot of money for spending. In fact, 5 of their top 7 cap hits are on the last year of their deals, so you can be rich, if you choose so. Also, the ratings guy will probably give you inflated attributes to start the cycle.

Why not Dallas?

It’s Dallas.

Uncertainty at QB. Not a lot of offensive weapons outside of CD. Mostly you hate the team or jerseys, or both. Even if you are playing virtually, you know deep down you are still in Jerry’s world. Zach Martin and DeMarcus Lawrence are getting old and you probably aren’t bringing them back. Parsons and CD might a billion dollars each.

Denver Broncos

Key Pieces: QB Bo Nix (R), HB Javonte Williams, WRs Courtland Sutton/Marvin Mims/Troy Franklin (R), DE John Franklin-Myers, MLB Alex Singleton, CBs Pat Surtain II/Levi Wallace

Why Denver?

Getting a rookie QB and a rookie WR to pair with him is always a fun way to start a cycle. This team has been gutted since they made the huge mistake of trading a ton of assets for Russell Wilson, just to give him an extension, just to cut him. They are financially ready to overhaul the roster, so if you like to make a team in your own way, this is a team for you. They do not have many big contracts, which when you pair that with a rookie QB contract, you are cooking. Fun uniform combinations, if you like orange.

Why not Denver?

You probably are not winning early on, since this is a big turnaround project. You also have to face off against Mahomes and Herbert 4 times a season, so that will get annoying real fast. Denver in December sounds terrible. The AFC will be highly competitive. You hate orange.