For years, the Madden cover has been considered the most illustrious and talked about sports sim box art worldwide. However, in Madden 23, the Madden franchise took a break from honoring its players to pay tribute to the late John Madden. So for Madden NFL 24, fans should expect the best-performing players to be the most likely candidates for the cover.  

Over the last few years, the franchise has typically favored quarterbacks for the standard-edition cover, but Madden NFL 24 could buck the trend. With stellar performances by multiple receivers, the stage could be set for a receiver to take over for the first time since Antonio Brown last held the honor on Madden NFL 19. However, with a few of the best quarterbacks from Madden NFL 23 having absurdly strong seasons, the pattern may continue. With all that in mind, we've put together a list of who we think may grace the cover of Madden NFL 24.

Josh Allen - Buffalo Bills

If there's a favorite for Madden 24 cover athlete at this point, it's probably going to be quarterback Josh Allen. He has the stats and the national recognition, in addition to fitting their quarterback-preference mould. Since Allen has not separated from the crowd based on his regular season performance alone, his case for the Madden NFL 24 covers likely hinges on his post-season performance. If he can lead the Bills to their first Super Bowl, it'd be hard to imagine anyone else on the cover.

Aaron Donald - Rams

Another route EA may consider for its cover star is, of course, one of the star players on the team defending its championship this fall. Aaron Donald has somehow never been on the Madden cover before, despite being the very best defensive player in the league for about a decade now. Is this the year? Donald mulled retirement this offseason, meaning the 2022 season may be his last on the field and his first on the Madden cover.

Tyreek Hill - Miami Dolphins

Tyreek Hill has proven himself fully capable in his new home with the Miami Dolphins, and a strong finish could easily make him the Madden 24 cover athlete. There's an intangible quality about Tyreek Hill that lets him transcend beyond the football field. With the recent addition of Patrick Mahomes to Fortnite, Tyreek Hill doesn't seem like too much of a far cry for a similar honor'he's even been recently dabbling in the title with streamer Tfue. His off-the-field popularity and absurd stats every Sunday make him an easy choice for the Madden NFL 24 cover.

Jalen Hurts - Philadelphia Eagles

A less likely but fully deserving option could be Philadelphia Eagles QB Jalen Hurts, who has continued to lead the Eagles on an amazing run in 2022. Despite being sidelined by injuries toward the end of the season, it's an understatement to say that Hurts was a major component of the Eagles' success this year. If he was healthy enough to play the entire season, his stats would likely be right up there with Burrow and Allen. Since Hurts' resume for the cover hinges so heavily on his team's winning record, the Eagles' post-season performance will determine his likelihood of getting the honor.

Justin Jefferson - Minnesota Vikings

While Justin Jefferson's red-hot year fizzled out toward the end, he still recorded one of the best single-season receiving years of all time. Despite being snubbed from the 99 overall rating club in Madden last year, Jefferson is likely a shoo-in when Madden NFL 24 rolls around. Not only does Jefferson boast unrivaled stats over his wide receiver peers, but he has undeniable star power. During his sophomore season in the NFL, Jefferson's signature celebration dance even made it into Fortnite. With a unique combination of mass appeal and ridiculous stats, few would argue against Jefferson if he made the cover.

Who do you think will be on the cover this year? Please let us know in the commet below!