Madden NFL 26 Rookie Ratings Reveal Packers, Matthew Golden in Surprising Spot

On Wednesday, the Madden rookie ratings arrived online, including a significant number for Travis Hunter. The Jacksonville Jaguars player topped all rookies with an 84 rating heading into his first dual-threat season in the NFL.

By comparison, Golden received a 76 rookie rating, which wasn't even enough to qualify him for the top 10 rookies. The lowest number on the list was 78, with four rookies receiving that rating.

A social media post from Madden shows other rookies in this year's top 10, including Las Vegas Raiders rookie Ashton Jeanty, who received an 83 overall.

According to Madden NFL 26, Golden's other attribute ratings include a 91 Speed, 61 Strength, 92 Agility, 91 Change of Direction, 89 Injury, and 72 Awareness. Hunter received higher ratings in all of these aspects.

Packers fans can see other Green Bay rookie ratings, including left tackle Anthony Belton, cornerback Micah Robinson, and wide receiver Savion Williams.

To some fans, Golden's first-ever rating in the video game below the top 10 rookies may seem like a snub, or give him motivation to show that he's above that number this season.

Hunter won the Heisman Trophy playing both corner and wide receiver for the Colorado Buffaloes. Meanwhile, Golden was a key part of a Texas Longhorns offense that reached the semifinals of the 2024-25 College Football Playoffs.

Both players are already putting in work at their team training camps ahead of the NFL's preseason, which begins next month, and regular season in September.

Expectations are already high for the rookies as they enter their first season, and it seems Hunter will have higher expectations than most. That could give Golden the potential to shine in what could be an intriguing race for Rookie of the Year.