In Madden 26’s Franchise mode, you’ll be tasked with managing your team, drafting and trading players, outlining the strategies on the pitch, and ultimately leading your team to Super Bowl glory. While you can pick up some great players in drafts, it’s harder to get another team’s star player via a trade without having to give up some of your best players. Fortunately, there are some easy players to trade for in Madden 26 that can still play pivotal roles in the future success of your team. I’ve outlined 10 below in positions on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball.
Best Easy Players to Trade for in Madden 26 Franchise Mode
The list below focuses largely on a long-term vision for a franchise team rebuild. This means we’re not looking at picking out the very best players in the league, but those who are young, have star development, and seem to perform very well when you’re playing a game, as well as in Madden simulations. I have also included some players that are a little higher up in the OVRs, but for whatever reason, can be picked up without having to trade too much.
George Pickens
The 24-year-old wide receiver might have only just joined the Cowboys this offseason, but he’s still available for a relatively low price. I used a couple of free agency picks (in the mid to high 70s) and a fifth-round pick for the following year, and that seemed to be enough to get the trade done.
With plenty of years left in his career, and star development, you’re picking up someone with plenty of room to grow into one of the league’s best, and a player you can build around for years to come.
Tyjae Spears
The halfback from the Titans is only 24 but he’s got some serious stats to back up his long-term potential. With an 88 in Speed, 91 in Acceleration, and 95 in Carrying, he’s a speedy all-rounder who’s unlikely to drop the ball. Add in the fact that he’s got star development and paired with Pickens, you’ve got two offensive players that could be the big names of your franchise’s future.
To get him, you’re only going to need an 78/79 OVR rated player, which you could most likely pick up on Free Agency.
Joey Porter
The 25-year-old Steelers cornerback is a great option for those looking to bolster their defensive roster. You don’t have to pay him for another few years on his contract, he’s young, has star development, and has a high ceiling. His 90s in Speed and Press, paired with his 82 in Man Coverage and 94 in Acceleration, make him a solid option for keeping those elusive wide receivers at bay with plenty of room to grow in future years if he delivers on the field.
He’ll only cost you an older RB on your roster and a third-round pick the following year, too.
Anthony Richardson
He might not have lived up to his potential in real life, but Anthony Richardson still has the stats to make him a formidable QB in Madden 26’s Franchise mode. A 91 in Speed, 92 in Acceleration, and 88 in Agility mean he’s able to scramble around the backfield before making a pass or rush for yards if the opportunity arises. When it doesn’t, his 96 Throw Power, 83 Short, 77 Mid, and 78 Deep Throwing Accuracy stats mean he’s more than capable of making plays with his arm, too. Just be aware of his low Awareness, which can become a problem if you’re simulating games.
There’s room to develop with Richardson (albeit not as much as others), and he’ll only cost you a mid-70s player and a couple of third, fourth, or fifth-round picks in the following two drafts. QB might not be a problem position for your franchise, but if it is, Richardson’s arguably the cheapest you can get who can actually perform on the big stage.
Chase Young
The right edge of the New Orleans Saints is one of my preferred options when it comes to your defensive line. He’s got solid Speed and Acceleration stats (83,87), high Impact Blocking (88), and average defensive stats across the board. The strange thing with Young, though, is that he seems to consistently outperform his stats in Madden 26’s Franchise mode, especially when simming games.
Even so, a 26-year-old with a 79 OVR rating and star development means he’s another player who will hopefully develop into an exciting player in future years. Even better, pretty much any free agent in the mid-70s should be enough to pry him away from the Saints.
Keeanu Benton
A developmental piece for your defense, Benton is a 24-year-old defensive tackle from the Steelers who can be traded for any free agent defensive tackle and a fourth-round pick. Like the aforementioned Young, Benton is an absolute beast when simming games, and even better you won’t have to pay him for a little while once you’ve traded for him.
His OVR rating might not seem like much, but he’s got the star development and youth on his side that make him a solid long-term option for your team in this position. It’s not the highest-rated player on the list, but it’s one of the best value trades you can make.
Isiah Pacheco
Pacheco is one of the strangest, best easy players you can trade for in Madden 26, given his solid stats. With an OVR rating of 83 and RB1 for the Chiefs, you’d think he’d be incredibly difficult to trade, but I managed to get him for a couple of low-80s-rated free agency players. Like a lot of other players on this list, Pacheco has star development, is 25 years old, and performs well in simulation.
He’s not only a player you can hope to see improve over future seasons, but one that can make an immediate impact on your team. Pair him with a fast QB who can rush the ball, and you’ll have a decent dual threat on the ground if throwing the ball is off the cards.
Marvin Mims Jr.
Mims is a 77-rated OVR wide receiver from the Denver Broncos who really showed what he could do when paired up with Bo Nix last season. At only 23, there’s plenty of room to develop further, but his 92 Speed, 94 Acceleration, 86 Catching, and solid route running (79 Short, 79 Medium, 80 Deep), make him a good long-term depth option at the WR position.
You’ll probably need to offer up a handful of low picks (sixth, seventh, eighth rounds) in future drafts to convince the Broncos to let him go, but given the value proposition in these rounds is pretty low anyway, you’re not missing out on much. Alternatively, offering a Free Agency player in a position the Broncos need, like left guard, and a second-round pick in a couple of years should be enough to get the trade done.
Tank Dell
A slot wide receiver at the Texans, Tank Dell suffered a devastating injury at the end of last season, but that doesn’t detract too much from the value on offer when it comes to picking him up in Franchise mode. With 92 Speed, 94 Acceleration, 93 Stamina, 86 Catching, 85 Catch in Traffic, and low 80s in all distance route running stats, he’s an exciting prospect to add to your team.
Add to that the fact he’s only 25, has star development, and only requires a high-70s OVR-rated player and a third-round pick for the following year, and you’ve easily got one of the best easy trades in Madden 26’s Franchise mode.
If you’re playing with injuries on, Tank Dell will be out for most of the first year because of the injuries he suffered. However, when he returns, he’s still a great WR to have in your team.
Rashod Bateman
Bateman has some great stats, and at 25 with star development, he’s another that you can arguably build your team around for long-term success. However, his 92 in Speed and Acceleration, paired with his 86 in Catching, 85 Spectacular Catch, 83 Catch in Traffioc, and low 80s in all distance route running stats, comes with a slightly higher price than others.
He’ll cost you a 77 OVR-rated player with a third-round pick in next year’s draft to get him from the Ravens. However, you might be able to play around with what you offer here to get a pick in the following year’s draft out of it, too, or offer a slightly higher-rated player for a straight swap instead.
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