Jacksonville Jaguars' Travis Hunter Responds To Unofficial Madden 26 Rating

“That’s a Madden rating. That’s it,” he said. “I’m not worried about a Madden rating right now. I’m worried about playing football.”

That 76 rating first came from an appearance Hunter made during the NFL playoffs on Madden Cast, an EA Sports–sponsored halftime show on Peacock.

In the segment, Hunter was asked what he thought his rookie Madden rating should be.

“If it ain’t an 85 and above,” Hunter said, pointing to his Heisman Trophy behind him, “we could 1-v-1 for it.”

Johnson, who serves as a live ratings adjuster for Madden and watched Hunter play in person under Colorado coach Deion Sanders, didn’t budge.

“The best I could do for you as a rookie coming into the league… I give you a 76,” he said.

Hunter, visibly surprised, shot back: “A 76?”

That’s when Johnson issued a challenge:

“We’ll do 10 routes. If you can stop me on just one of 10, I promise you I’ll give you a 90 as a rookie—first ever.”

However, EA Sports hasn’t officially released any rookie ratings yet.

Hunter’s real in-game rating won’t be known until the full roster drops with the game’s official release on Aug. 14.

SportsBookReview.com projected that a 76 would be too low for Hunter, suggesting his rating should fall closer to a 79, citing his athleticism, versatility, and top-five draft status.

Last year’s highest-rated rookies—Marvin Harrison Jr. and Joe Alt—each received a 79 overall, which could again set the ceiling for first-year players.

The all-time highest rookie rating in Madden history belongs to Calvin Johnson, commonly referred to as "Megatron," who entered the league with an 87 overall in 2007.

Still, if any rookie has the pedigree, spotlight, and skill set to break that mark, it’s Hunter—the two-way phenom who dominated college football under "Coach Prime" and now brings that same game-breaking potential to Jacksonville.

While his usage on both sides of the ball remains to be seen in the NFL, early reports from Jaguars minicamp suggest he’s already adapting quickly at the next level.

When asked if he’d be up for Johnson’s 1-on-1 challenge, Hunter didn’t hesitate.

“I believe in myself, so I know I’ll be able to cover him.”

While the official Madden ratings may still be weeks away, Hunter’s confidence—and competitive streak—are already live.