Battle for the Madden NFL 27 cover: 5 finalists revealed

Madden NFL 27 is moving closer to naming its next cover star, with five leading candidates now in the frame.

The shortlist includes Matthew Stafford, Bijan Robinson, Kenneth Walker III, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Myles Garrett, giving EA Sports several different routes.

Garrett’s place is the most historically notable. If selected, the Cleveland Browns edge rusher would be the first defensive player on the Madden cover since Richard Sherman.

Myles Garrett could end Madden’s long defensive drought

Stafford has a strong case after a 2025 season in which he led the NFL with 4,707 passing yards and 46 touchdowns before winning MVP.

Robinson offers a different profile. The Atlanta Falcons running back led the league with 2,298 scrimmage yards and produced the NFL’s longest run of the season.

Walker is another backfield option after winning Super Bowl MVP, while Smith-Njigba brings a wide receiver case after 119 catches, 1,793 yards and Offensive Player of the Year honours.

On the other hand, Garrett’s argument is built on defence and history. He recorded 23 sacks last season, passing the previous single-season mark shared by Michael Strahan and T.J. Watt.

That production helped him win Defensive Player of the Year for a second time, adding another major achievement to a résumé already filled with individual honours.

The wider cover context also matters. Sherman was the last defensive player selected, appearing on Madden NFL 15 after Ray Lewis and Troy Polamalu had previously represented defence.

That leaves Garrett with a chance to end a long wait. For Madden, it would also mark a shift away from the recent run of offensive stars.

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