Stephen A. Smith didn’t care to speak about Cam Ward’s rating
Stephen A. Smith’s Blunt Response to Cam Ward’s Madden 26 Rating originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
After revealing the members of the Madden 26 99 club, EA Sports released the initial ratings for some of the league’s incoming rookies.
The group is headlined by Jacksonville Jaguars two-way player Travis Hunter, the latest recipient of the Heisman Trophy and No. 2 overall pick from April’s NFL draft. He was given an 84 rating that includes 99 stamina, 96 jumping and 95 agility.
The other highly rated rookies include halfback Ashton Jeanty (83), linebacker Abdul Carter (81), defensive tackle Mason Graham (80) and offensive tackle Will Campbell (79). However, quarterback Cam Ward, who was selected by the Tennessee Titans No. 1 overall, was given a 72 rating.
EA Sports gave Ward 82 speed, 85 acceleration, 83 agility, 72 awareness and 92 stamina. He also has 91 throw power and 84 throw on the run.
What Did Stephen A. Smith Have to Say?
Ward’s Madden 26 rating was debated during Thursday’s episode of ESPN’s “First Take” between analysts Kevin Clark and Ryan Clark, while Stephen A. Smith didn’t participate in the discussion.
“If I’m going to talk about a Tennessee Titan, it needs to be after they are winning games,” he said.
His remarks came after the other two analysts expressed their opinions about Ward’s overall performance.
“He is the closest prospect to Patrick Mahomes, and this [rating] is offensive to everybody,” Kevin Clark said. “He’s not the top-rated Titans rookie. This is embarrassing. They had a draft, and the Titans said he’s the best player in this class.”
Ryan Clark thought Ward’s rating was fair because he “plays a tough position” and position players have it easier to develop than the quarterback.
“Cam Ward is fine, it's more about how he stacks up against the rest of the quarterbacks,” he added.
Despite the rather low Madden 26 rating, it can improve if Ward plays well throughout his rookie campaign.
Related: Stephen A. Smith Predicts Winner of Pacers-Thunder Game 7
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 31, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: Football
