Best players to trade for in Madden 25 Franchise mode

When Madden 25 players take over a team in a new Franchise mode save, the goal is to build for long-term success. By trading for the right players, you can transform your team into a dynasty that fights for the Super Bowl each year.

The size of an NFL roster is massive and with so many positions, it may be difficult to identify an area of the field to improve. To make things easier, we’ve put together a list of the best players to trade for.

Best Madden 25 Franchise mode players to trade for

If you’re looking to strengthen your chances of winning the Super Bowl in Franchise mode, we’ve compiled the best players to trade for across the most popular positions in Madden 25.

We’ve assigned a type for each player that explains their profile. This should help you identify which players to target based on your needs.

• Elite: The best or one of the best players available in this position.
• Prime: The player is in their prime and can immediately improve your team as a top-five player in their position.
• Star: The player is on the cusp of becoming a top talent with the proper development.
• Potential: The player is poised to reach great heights, but you’ll need to develop their raw talent.

Quarterback

Player	Team	OVR	Type
Lamar Jackson	Baltimore Ravens	98	Elite
Josh Allen	Buffalo Bills	92	Prime
C.J. Stroud	Houston Texans	81	Star
Caleb Williams	Chicago Bears	76	Potential
Anthony Richardson	Indianapolis Colts	74	Potential

In terms of a Quarterback who can do it all, Lamar Jackson ticks all of the boxes. It won’t be easy to seal a deal for him, but Jackson is a fantastic elite option that will act as a dual threat for your offense.

Developing a young Quarterback is a great strategy as they’ll be the face of your franchise for years to come. C.J. Stroud, Caleb Williams, and Anthony Richardson are a trio of QBs who have the potential to be elite with the right training and guidance.

Stroud is the furthest along in his development if you prefer to get a deal done for the most established of the three.

Running Back / Half Back

Player	Team	OVR	Type
Christian McCaffrey	San Francisco 49ers	99	Elite
Travis Etienne Jr.	Jacksonville Jaguars	90	Prime
Jonathan Taylor	Indianapolis Colts	87	Prime
Breece Hall	New York Jets	84	Star
Bijon Robinson	Atlanta Falcons	82	Potential

Cover star Christian McCaffrey leads the pool of Running Back candidates to trade for. Gunning for McCaffrey isn’t for every team, considering he’ll come at an astronomical cost. But if you’re looking for the best player, the 49ers star is your man.

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Looking elsewhere, you can provide the exit Jonathan Taylor was publically looking for at the start of the 2023/2024 season. He’s since signed a new contract with the Colts, but given the public fallout, he might still be looking for a fresh start.

Wide Receiver

Player	Team	OVR	Type
CeeDee Lamb	Dallas Cowboys	96	Elite
Amon-Ra St. Brown	Detroit Lions	95	Elite
D.K. Metcalf	Seattle Seahawks	86	Prime
Puka Nacua	Los Angeles Rams	85	Star
Rashee Rice	Kansas City Chiefs	81	Potential

When it comes to athleticism, D.K. Metcalf is the top option in the league, and his 96 Speed and 94 Jumping speak to that. The Seahawks receiver is sandwiched between two established superstars and two up-and-comers with loads of potential.

Lamb and St. Brown are proven producers you can target that’ll come at a high cost. Meanwhile, Nacua and Rice had breakout campaigns last year and could continue to build their legacy if you trade for either.

Tight End

Player	Team	OVR	Type
Travis Kelce	Kansas City Chiefs	99	Elite
Mark Andrews	Baltimore Ravens	94	Prime
Sam LaPorta	Detroit Lions	86	Star
Cole Kmet	Chicago Bears	83	Potential
Kyle Pitts	Atlanta Falcons	83	Potential

It felt wrong not to include Kelce as a top TE to trade for. But we recommend approaching him with caution as the 34-year-old won’t be contributing to the success of your Franchise for years to come. Given his age, you should only trade for Kelce if you can strike the right deal.

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Sam LaPorta is my favorite option on the list as he would slot in nicely to any offensive playbook. After his successful first season in the NFL, you get the feeling that LaPorta is destined for greatness.

Cornerback

Player	Team	OVR	Type
Sauce Gardner	New York Jets	97	Elite
Jaire Alexander	Green Bay Packers	93	Elite
Trevon Diggs	Dallas Cowboys	89	Prime
Tariq Woolen	Seattle Seahawks	86	Star
Deommodore Lenoir	San Francisco 49ers	82	Potential

The Jets defense is turning heads at the start of the 2024/2025 season and it’s thanks to elite players like Sauce Gardner. Unlike some of the other elite options on this list, we highly recommend trading for Gardner given his optimal age. At just 23 years old, Gardner has the potential to be the best Cornerback in the league for a decade.

Tariq Woolen is also an excellent option as his 97 Speed stat ranks him among the top five fastest players in Madden 25.

Linebacker

Player	Team	OVR	Type
Fred Warner	San Francisco 49ers	97	Elite
Alex Highsmith	Pittsburgh Steelers	89	Prime
Joey Bosa	Los Angeles Chargers	87	Prime
Tremaine Edmunds	Chicago Bears	84	Star
Quay Walker	Green Bay Packers	79	Potential

Strengthening the Linebacker position must not be overlooked. While they don’t produce flashy plays like Wide Receivers or Running Backs, Linebackers are the spin of your team that provides a solid foundation for success.

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If you want to trade for a player who puts his strength to the test every week, Joey Bosa is your man. On the flip side, you’ll want to target Edmunds if your preferred profile is one that prioritizes speed.

If you prefer the Superstar mode, check out all of the NFL Combine Interview answers to raise your stock on Draft Day.