With Madden NFL 26 recently releasing its shortlist for the players to have achieved the prestigious rating of 99 in the upcoming EA Sports video game, former Cincinnati Bengals icon Chad Johnson has come out to share who he thinks can enter the Madden 99 club in next year’s edition. In a recent interview, the six-time Pro Bowl nominee opened up about the player he believes has the potential to secure the highest possible rating in the 2026 iteration of the long-running NFL game.
Chad Johnson says Jayden Daniels can make it into Madden 99 club in 2026
During his recent appearance on ESPN’s Get Up talk show, Chad Johnson revealed that, according to him, the Washington Commanders’ Jayden Daniels currently has the best chance to join the elusive Madden 99 club come next year.
While disclosing his pick for the Madden 99 club in 2026, Johnson said, “I like Jayden Daniels. For what he was able to do, to come in as a rookie and turn that franchise around like this. And I don’t see him having a sophomore slump. Not with what they’ve done, with the Commanders putting pieces around him to make sure he’s successful.”
Notably, Daniels is coming off a spectacular debut season, which saw him throw for 3,568 yards on a 69% completion rate with 25 touchdowns and nine interceptions. The 24-year-old quarterback’s impressive heroics also saw him bag the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award at the end of the 2024-25 season, making him a prime candidate to enter the Madden 99 club come next year.
So far, Madden has issued a total of 129 ratings of 99 over the span of 26 editions, with only seven quarterbacks, namely Peyton Manning (5 times), Tom Brady (4 times), Patrick Mahomes (4 times), Aaron Rodgers (3 times), Drew Brees (1 time), Lamar Jackson (1 time), and Josh Allen (1 time), having made it into the exclusive club.
The players who feature in the said group for the upcoming Madden NFL 26 include Ja’Marr Chase, Josh Allen, Justin Jefferson, Lamar Jackson, Saquon Barkley, Lane Johnson, and Myles Garrett.
