Madden 26 is just around the corner, and it brings many changes to Franchise mode, the most in a very long time. Fans are hoping this will be able to revitalize the mode, making it much more immersive and enjoyable.
With Franchise mode being potentially the best it has been in years, players are already thinking about which saves they will start. For many players, that means choosing which NFL team they want to rebuild, to turn them into the Dynasty that will replace the Chiefs.
Luckily for you, we have selected the best and most interesting teams to rebuild in Madden 26!
Madden 26 Best Teams to Rebuild in Franchise Mode
The criteria to define which teams can be considered a rebuild team are very straightforward. They can't be a highly rated team; they must have missed the playoffs at least once in the past three seasons, and they haven't had much or any success at all recently.
Basically, they are a bad team, and there is no way they are making it to the playoffs in real life, let alone competing for a title, like the Saints. Sorry, New Orleans fans.
So, without further ado, let's take a look at the five best teams to rebuild in Madden 26 Franchise mode.
1 - Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are coming off an awful 2024 season, where they had one of the worst offenses in the NFL, struggling to pass the ball and establish the running game. It wasn't very different on the other side of the ball, as while the defense was solid versus the passing game, it could not stop the run or pressure the quarterback.
Quarterback play was a huge issue for the Titans last year, costing them a few wins. However, that should not be a problem with Cam Ward at the helm. While it's unlikely Ward will lead a team to a playoff berth in its rookie season, he will certainly perform better than Will Levis.
All of this makes the Titans a great team to rebuild in Madden 26, as while you possibly have the quarterback of the future, the defense still needs a massive upgrade, and Ward needs better weapons on the offensive side to contend with the best of the best.
2 - New York Giants
The Daniel Jones era has come to an end in New York, and the Giants are now officially in rebuild mode. Losing Saquon Barkley in the 2024 free agency, and making a long-term bet on Daniel Jones that backfired very quickly forced the Giants to push the reset button.
In the 2024 season, the Giants struggled as much to put points on the board as they did to prevent the opponents from doing it. Despite having the tenth longest time of possession in the NFL, the New York Giants had the 31st worst offense in the league.
But just like the Titans, the Giants also have some things playing in their favour. Their defensive line got substantially better, to the point that many are arguing it can be one of the five best in the league in 2025. So, you have a great defensive line, but no franchise quarterback, and an offense that lacks firepower apart from Malik Nabers.
Rebuilding the New York Giants is a proper challenge, as you need to find the quarterback of the future, upgrade your offense, and try to contend with the Eagles in your division. Keeping the defensive core together will also be a challenge long-term.
So, if you are looking for a challenging rebuild in Madden 26, the Giants are calling for you, just like the Knicks called for every available coach in the offseason.
3 - New York Jets
The Giants aren't the only team in New York that needs some, well, a lot of help. If the Giants had a tough season, then the Jets had a devastating one, simply because of the expectations everyone had going into it. The playoff drought was extended to 14 seasons, and it seems very likely that number 15 is on the horizon.
Aaron Rodgers is no longer wearing green, and the Jets have a real problem at quarterback. The defense was solid last year and has enough talent to be a top defense. However, on the other side of the ball, there are plenty of problems to fix, and they might take a while to do so.
Many things make the Jets a fantastic team to rebuild. They haven't had any meaningful success in almost two decades, the offense needs a major rebuild, and keeping the key defensive players together will be a big challenge.
4 - Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are in a very tricky spot. Their defense was abysmal last season, being one of the worst in the league across the board. On offense, things weren't much better, and while Bryce Young finished the season strong, there are plenty of questions about him being a franchise quarterback.
While they aren't in a strong division, both the Falcons and the Jaguars look like better teams and have a much bigger upside than the Panthers. Rebuilding the Panthers will be hard and take time, especially if you decide that Bryce Young is not your quarterback.
To simply be competitive, even inside your division, massive upgrades to the defensive and offensive core will need to be made. Apart from Xavier Legette, who is a talented young player, there is not much on the offensive side of the board. The Panthers' offensive line is also something you will need to urgently address, no matter whether you trust Bryce Young or search for a new quarterback.
So, if you are looking for an " oh my goodness, how am I going to rebuild this team" type of challenge, pack your bags and head to Carolina.
5 - New Orleans Saints
The Saints are an aging team that is finally hitting the rebuild button. While the defense had great success against the run, it couldn't replicate the same success against the passing game. On offense, the Saints were mediocre, but they urgently need to pick their quarterback of the future and select a running back capable of replacing Kamara.
While the Saints are a team capable of improving from their 5-12 record in your first Franchise mode season, they need a massive overhaul to be considered a contender once again. It all starts with a fresh new quarterback, a new receiving core, and an improved defensive secondary.
It will take some time to build the Saints as a contender, as is the case with most rebuilding teams. But since the Saints' division is not the strongest, two good off-seasons might be enough to compete with the Buccaneers for the division crown and sneak into the playoffs as a wildcard.
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