EA Sports recently responded to the #FixMaddenFranchise movement, committing to giving Franchise Mode in Madden NFL 22 some more attention. While the features that will be implemented are currently unknown, the fact that EA Sports is even addressing the issue is a win for football fans. Here is a list of some features that should absolutely be in Madden NFL 22. Most of these were already in a previous Madden game, so hard can it be to bring them back?
Coaches should have more control over their players’ contracts. Coaches and owners in Madden have very little control over contracts as of right now, and it really hurts the experience. In the NFL, restructured contracts are constantly in the news as teams manage their cap space. Coaches in Madden should be able to frontload or backload contracts as they see fit. Extensions should be easy to manage as well so coaches can get ahead of a budding star’s value. This feature will be vital for teams like the Kansas City Chiefs who have some massive contracts to consider in a few years.
Assistant Coaches should be a part of franchise mode. This is a feature that used to be in older Madden games but was removed for some reason. Assistant coaches can be easily implemented, EA doesn’t need to make it a deep experience or anything. Allow for players to hire assistant coaches and have those assistants alter player and team stats based on skills and attributes. This will add more depth and strategy to the game, so adding this is a no brainer. It’s also necessary for a true simulated experience.
Scouts should also be brought back to Madden. Scouts were also removed from Madden for some reason or another. The scouting mechanic is currently so bare it hurts. Hiring scouts that specialize in positions and spotting traits could breathe some more life into the mode.
The trading system in Franchise mode has been broken for years now. The trade logic makes no sense, and it is way too easy to cheese the system. There needs to be a complete overhaul in how the AI handles trades.
There should be a player personality system. Players should come with a few ratings that affect their personalities. These should influence team chemistry, free agency, and even the overall of other players. Adding personalities would add more depth to Madden, making it a more complete experience. This is already used in other sports games, so this is another no brainer.
Make creating custom teams easy and accessible. Why did Madden remove the create a team feature? Choosing a team’s colors, logos, and name allows for tons of creativity. Give players the tools that are in games like the NBA 2K franchise and there are limitless opportunities for fun teams. Bonus points will be given if historical rosters and retired players can be added for more customization of leagues (Without the need for custom community rosters).

Player and team stats need to be more complete. The system used for tracking stats in Madden is severely lacking right now. Tracking for a league’s history is even more bare-bones. Everyone should be able to see a complete history for every player, including past teams, records, awards, and even stats by game.
These are just a few items that we want to see in the next Madden entry. What are some features you want in Madden Franchise? Let us know in the comments!