EA Sports has officially dropped one of the biggest Madden 26 updates of the season — the mid-season roster update. This one's always a game-changer, not only because of how many players get traded at the deadline but also because EA typically recalibrates ratings based on half a season's worth of performance. That means big upgrades, downgrades, and plenty of movement across the league for Franchise Mode players and Ultimate Team enthusiasts alike.

If you're starting a new franchise or just want to know how your favorite team stacks up after all the trade deadline chaos, here's everything you need to know from the latest Madden 26 update.

Major Trade Deadline Moves Now Reflected in Madden 26

This year's trade deadline was wild — and those moves are now officially reflected in-game. Let's go over the biggest ones shaking up team rosters in Madden 26.

Sauce Gardner to the Indianapolis Colts

One of the biggest shocks of the season — Sauce Gardner is now an Indianapolis Colt. The Jets, clearly entering another rebuild phase, dealt away their young superstar corner. For Madden players, this instantly boosts the Colts' secondary, turning them into one of the most dangerous defenses in the AFC. Gardner's combination of elite man coverage and length makes Indy a nightmare matchup online.

Quinnen Williams Joins the Cowboys

In another surprising Jets move, Quinnen Williams was traded to the Dallas Cowboys. Dallas, which recently moved on from Micah Parsons due to cap issues, is reloading its defensive line with one of the league's premier nose tackles. Expect Dallas to remain one of the toughest defensive units in Madden 26, especially with Williams anchoring the middle.

Rashid Shaheed to the Seahawks

The Saints continue their rebuild, sending Rashid Shaheed — one of the fastest receivers in the league — to Seattle. For the Seahawks, this move adds even more vertical threat potential. In Madden terms, his 96+ speed rating makes him one of the most dangerous deep threats in the game, perfectly complementing JSN and DK Metcalf.

Jakobi Meyers to the Jaguars

The Jacksonville Jaguars added Jakobi Meyers, giving them another reliable target for Trevor Lawrence. Surprisingly, Meyers now ties for Jacksonville's top-rated receiver in Madden 26. With Calvin Ridley's in-game rating slipping, Meyers becomes a strong possession option for players who prefer balanced passing attacks.

Jaire Alexander to the Eagles

The Philadelphia Eagles landed Jaire Alexander from Green Bay. Although he's had a down year in real life, his in-game skill set still makes him a valuable addition. Even after a big rating drop (more on that later), Alexander remains an excellent Madden corner with high agility and speed.

Other Notable Trades

• Mazi Smith joins the Jets' defensive line.

• Adonai Mitchell, the speedy second-year WR from the Colts, is also heading to New York. His 94 speed gives the Jets a much-needed boost on offense.

• Trevor Penning moves from the Saints to the Chargers, adding depth to L.A.'s offensive line.

• Logan Wilson joins the Cowboys alongside Quinnen Williams, further reinforcing their defense.

All these moves are now live in Madden 26 rosters, meaning players can dive right into franchise mode or head-to-head matchups with the most current NFL lineups.

Top Player Ratings Upgrades

With the trade deadline behind us, EA rolled out some major rating boosts for players having breakout seasons. Here are some of the biggest risers:

• Puka Nacua: +1 → 95 OVR

• Garrett Wilson: +2 → 94 OVR

• Brock Bowers: +2 → 93 OVR

• Drake London: +1 → 92 OVR

• Jackson Smith-Njigba: +1 → 92 OVR

• Justin Herbert: +1 → 91 OVR

• Darnell Wright (Bears RT): +4 → 86 OVR

• Drake Maye: +1 → 86 OVR

• Sam Darnold: +2 → 84 OVR

• Rico Dowdle (Panthers RB): +2 → 84 OVR

• Rigoberto Sanchez (Colts P): +6 → 83 OVR

It's clear EA Sports rewarded breakout performances, particularly among the Colts roster — a reflection of how dominant they've been this season.

Players on the Decline

Of course, not every star is trending upward. Several veterans and struggling players took a hit this update.

• Chris Jones (Chiefs): -1 → 95 OVR

• CeeDee Lamb (Cowboys): -1 → 94 OVR

• Sauce Gardner (Colts): -1 → 92 OVR

• Mike Evans (Buccaneers): -1 → 91 OVR

• Dak Prescott (Cowboys): -1 → 90 OVR

• Harrison Smith (Vikings): -1 → 87 OVR

• Ja'Marr Alexander (Eagles): -5 → 81 OVR

• Nick Chubb (Texans): -1 → 80 OVR

• AJ Cole (Raiders P): -5 → 79 OVR

The most surprising drop belongs to Jaire Alexander, who fell a whopping five points to an 81 OVR. While he's still fast enough to be serviceable in Madden, it's a big fall from grace for a player once considered among the best corners in the NFL.

What This Means for Madden 26 Franchise and Ultimate Team

For Franchise players, this mid-season roster update shakes up the league's balance in a big way. The Colts, Cowboys, and Seahawks are now among the most improved teams, while Green Bay and the Jets took noticeable steps back after their deadline sell-offs.

For Ultimate Team, expect many of these rising players — like Puka Nacua, Brock Bowers, and Drake Maye — to receive upgraded cards in the coming weeks. Historically, EA uses these mid-season boosts as a preview for the next MUT promo wave.

Final Thoughts

The Madden 26 mid-season update is one of the most impactful patches we've seen this year. Between the major trades, the player rating shakeups, and the team identity shifts, the league feels refreshed — both in real life and in-game. Whether you're looking to start a new franchise, update your Ultimate Team, or test out your favorite squad online, make sure to download the latest rosters and experience the most up-to-date version of Madden 26.

And if you never want to miss future Madden or College Football updates, stay tuned to NBA2King.com — The next wave of content is right around the corner.