🏈 Who Will be on the Madden NFL 27 Cover? Latest Odds From Prediction Markets

Being on the cover of an iconic video game has been high on the list of individual NFL honors for a while now, and the Madden 27 cover odds at prediction markets show a standout receiver for the champs is getting the greatest chance.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba is the favorite, though he's barely ahead of Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, with the likes of Drake Maye and Sam Darnold hovering too.

The Madden cover player is usually announced later in the spring (June 2 last year), with the game released in August.

📷 Who will be on the Madden 27 cover?

Smith-Njigba has been among the leading contenders to have his image plastered on the video game cover. That tends to happen when you're repeatedly erupting for the eventual champions while putting up six games with 120-plus receiving yards, playoffs included.

He peaked at a market-leading 77.4% chance back in late January as a result. Smith-Njigba then fell to around 60% as the hype around Maye grew, especially since he remained a strong MVP contender.

But a poor playoff run stung Maye's chance, resulting in a swift tumble from a sky-high 98% to 40%. Maye threw four interceptions to go along with six touchdown tosses during the playoffs while averaging a mediocre 6.9 yards per attempt.

Stafford has now assumed Maye's former position as Smith-Njigba's main challenger, a role he's certainly earned after the aging quarterback shook off significant back issues to play at a high caliber and be named the MVP.

📊 Madden 27 Cover odds

Here's the full market from Kalshi. It's crowded at the top, with three players getting at or above a 40% chance, and Darnold not far off that threshold, too.

🔮 Madden 27 cover prediction

Follow all of our NFL analysis and betting advice for every major betting market based on the NFL odds.

It's Stafford's time to shine

There will often be a tendency to favor a star on the most recent Super Bowl winner. And Smith-Njigba is certainly worthy of spotlighting after leading the NFL in receiving yards (1,793) while breaking out during his third NFL season.

However, the Madden cover can and should honor the game's greatest talents while there's still an opportunity. And although he's still clearly playing at a top-tier level after being named the MVP this past season, the clock is ticking for Stafford in a way it's not for Smith-Njigba.

The latter recently turned 24 years old, just completed only his second season being on the field for 75% of the Seahawks' offensive snaps, and he should continue to play a prominent role for a Super Bowl odds contender for some time. Stafford just turned 38, and he's dealt with plenty of injuries, most recently a back problem that led to him missing most of training camp.

That injury made his brilliance this past season all the more impressive, including a league-leading 4,707 passing yards. His Rams beat the defensively dominant Seahawks during the regular season, and gave them a much tougher challenge in the NFC Championship Game than what Seattle faced in the Super Bowl (Los Angeles lost 31-27).

Every offseason now there will be retirement questions, and this year that included Rams head coach Sean McVay keeping his "fingers crossed," via ESPN, before Stafford eventually announced he's coming back.

Give him what he deserves before the cleats are hung up.

Prediction: Stafford is on the cover of Madden 27

📜 Madden cover history

John Madden himself was on the cover of the legendary game until 2001, when Eddie George was the first player. Madden came back for the 2023 edition when Electronic Arts paid tribute to the famed coach and broadcaster following his passing.

Quarterbacks unsurprisingly lead the way while getting 11 covers. But unlike in the NFL MVP odds history, their advantage here isn't nearly as significant.

Running backs have graced eight covers, including in each of the past two seasons. However, the broader recent trends still favor the passers, with the position represented on half of the covers across the past decade.

Seeing a tight end or defender on the cover is rare, and that's only happened a combined three times (or four if we include the shared edition between Troy Polamalu and Larry Fitzgerald).

📖 How does Kalshi differ from sportsbooks?

Unlike sportsbooks, Kalshi users trade directly with each other in an open market rather than betting against a house. Prices are expressed in cents as implied probabilities, and positions can be sold early to lock in gains or limit losses. For entertainment markets like the Madden 27 cover, the focus is on forecasting outcomes, not beating a fixed line, offering more flexibility and transparency than traditional betting.

💡 Why should I wager on the Madden 27 cover at Kalshi?

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• Flexibility: Unlike a "locked-in" bet, you can sell your contract at any time.
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• Availability: Kalshi is available in many regions where traditional sportsbooks aren't yet legal.

❓ Madden 27 cover FAQs

Who is the favorite to be on the Madden 27 cover?

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba is the favorite while getting a 53% chance.

When will the Madden 27 cover player be announced?

An announcement typically comes later in the spring. EA announced Saquon Barkley as the 2025 cover player on June 2.

When will Madden 27 be released?

An official date has not been announced yet, but the game usually comes out in early August.

Which position has been featured on the most Madden covers?

Players have been on the cover since 2001, and quarterbacks lead the way with 11.