The first-ever virtual NFL Draft is underway, with the first round going smoothly even though many expected technical issues to hinder the process.  As is tradition, Madden 20 has added all 32 players selected to Ultimate Team with boosted ratings.  Madden players eagerly waiting to add these players to their rosters didn’t have to wait long, as each player was made available as soon as they were selected in the draft.  The overall rating of these players is scaled according to their draft position, with the first overall player awarded a 99 overall card, down to 95 overall for the last 12 selected.

Players who prefer to play with real rosters will have to wait until Madden 21 releases later this year, which Lamar Jackson recently announced that he will be the cover athlete for.  Another option is to download a custom roster, but there has been an issue for the past few weeks that prevents any custom rosters from being downloaded (this has reportedly been fixed, but many people are still encountering issues).  Therefore, the only way to play with these exciting rookies at the moment is in MUT.

If you are looking to upgrade your roster, the most exciting way to do so is by adding a new Quarterback, and four teams did just that tonight, which means that you have four options to add to your own roster.  The first and most obvious choice would be to add 99 overall LSU superstar Joe Burrow who the Cincinnati Bengals selected with the first overall pick. The second QB selected was 98 overall left-handed Alabama star Tua Tagovailoa who provides a bit more mobility. 97 overall Oregon QB Justin Herbert should be your pick if you want a big Quarterback with a huge arm. If you don’t have as much time or money to invest in the game, and you want a budget Patrick Mahomes, 95 overall Jordan Love, who the Packers selected as the most shocking pick of the draft could be your guy. Surprisingly, because of how much Madden inflates cards towards the end of the year, Love has the same overall as the best version of future hall-of-famer Aaron Rodgers, who Love will be learning behind for the next few years.

In terms of skill positions, a bevy of Wide Receivers were selected in the first round, but Alabama speedster Henry Ruggs III, his teammate Jerry Jeudy, and Oklahoma star CeeDee Lamb are tied for the highest rating of 96.  Each excels at the position in a different way, so do some research on who would fit your play style best.

Given how overpowered the run game can be this year, many players will want a Halfback, but you only have one option here, which is Clyde Edwards-Helaire out of LSU.  Helaire will likely be a receiving back primarily for the Kansas City Chiefs, but he is a versatile athlete.

On the defensive side of the ball, second overall pick Edge Rusher Chase Young out of Ohio State, and his teammate, third overall pick Cornerback Jeff Okudah both check-in with a 98 overall.  If you want to fill in any position on the second level between these two, Cardinals eighth pick Isaiah Simmons out of Clemson should be able to play any position in the backfield, and at 97 overall, he should be dangerous.

With the fate of sports in the near future still up in the air, Madden could be the only place where you get to see these guys for a little while.  Hopefully, that isn’t the case, but either way, playing with these future stars is always fun, and the players in this year’s draft are particularly intriguing.  Collecting all 32 of these players would require a lot of grinding, and probably a good chunk of money, but it shouldn’t be too hard to earn a few of your favorites.  If your team didn’t have a first-round pick or your favorite player hasn’t been drafted yet, you still could have a chance to get them in a few weeks, as EA usually adds a few more draft picks later as Rookie Premiere cards.