Five potential Madden 24 cover stars

Last year, John Madden appeared on the cover following his death on Dec. 28, 2021. "Madden 22" featured Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes on the cover, each for the second time. 

Mahomes would be a good pick for the cover every year, but the series will likely spread the wealth this time. Here's a look at five of the best options for the cover of "Madden 24."

Josh Allen, quarterback: Allen might be the favorite considering a purported leak of the cover features the Bills QB. Of course, anyone can make a fake cover hoping to go viral, so there isn't too much validity to that rumor. But Allen is a popular figure with the fifth highest-selling jersey in the league and is one of the best quarterbacks on one of the NFL's best teams. 

In 76 starts over the past five seasons, the Bills are 52-24 with four playoff appearances. Allen is a huge reason for the team's success with his 177 total touchdowns (passing, rushing and receiving) the second most in the NFL since 2018. 

He would also become the first Bills player to appear on a cover of the Madden series.

Jalen Hurts, quarterback: Based on his fantastic 2022, Hurts should be in the running, too. The Eagles were 14-1 in his 15 starts last season and Hurts had 3,701 yards, 22 touchdowns and six interceptions while adding 760 yards and 13 touchdowns on the ground. 

He's widely viewed as the best QB in the NFC and singling him out for the Madden cover would be fitting. Donovan McNabb was the last Eagles player featured on the cover, appearing on "Madden NFL 06"

Justin Jefferson, wide receiver: Jefferson recorded arguably the greatest reception in NFL history last season, making the Vikings phenom an easy pick for Madden cover star. While there's a debate about who's the best receiver in football, statistically speaking, no one is on Jefferson's level since he entered the league in 2020. 

His 4,825 receiving yards were the most in the NFL from 2020-22. As for prior Vikings representation in the Madden universe, QB Daunte Culpepper appeared on the cover of "Madden NFL 2002."

Travis Kelce, tight end: Kelce would be the first tight end selected for the cover since Rob Gronkowski ("Madden NFL 17"). He's already one of the greatest tight ends in NFL history and has raised his profile off the field this offseason. 

He hosted "Saturday Night Live" in March and will pair with Mahomes against the NBA's electric duo of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson in "Capital One's The Match" later this month. A Madden cover would be a logical next step. 

Christian McCaffrey, running back: Garrison Hearst was the last 49ers player to appear on a Madden cover, featured on the international cover of "Madden NFL 99." McCaffrey was excellent in San Francisco last season after being traded by the Panthers, totaling 1,210 yards from scrimmage and 10 touchdowns in 11 games.

It's been 10 years since a running back was featured on the cover. In 2013, Barry Sanders and Adrian Peterson appeared on alternate covers and if a running back graces the cover of "Madden 24," McCaffrey should be the pick.