EA Sports made a difference choice when they dropped Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson and instead picked Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen to grace the cover photo of “Madden 24” video game.
Josh Allen has been an MVP contender for the last three years, averaging 4,411 yards, 36 touchdowns and 13 interceptions per season. The Buffalo Bills finished first in the AFC East each of those years, and they’ve become perennial preseason Super Bowl picks.
However, many say he is no match in comparism to Justin Jefferson who is known for his charisma, infectious personality and signature touchdown dance.
23-year-old Jefferson last year, set franchise records for catches (128) and yards (1,809), was named Offensive Player of the Year and was the only non-quarterback to be an MVP finalist.
The Madden franchise has largely leaned on quarterbacks as cover athletes recently, aside from “Madden 23,” which had the picture of John Madden himself in honor of the football legend’s death.
Below is a list of the most recent covers:
- “Madden 22”: Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes
- “Madden 21”: Lamar Jackson
- “Madden 20”: Patrick Mahomes
A wide receiver has never made the cover since Odell Beckham Jr. on “Madden 16.”
Two Vikings players had so far made the Madden cover: Daunte Culpepper on “Madden 2002”, and Adrian Peterson was on an alternate cover for “Madden 25,” which, confusingly, came out in 2013.