Trey McBride locked down a perfect 99 OVR in Madden NFL 27, and get this: he’s sharing that rarified air with none other than our own Jaxon Smith-Njigba! EA Sports just announced that McBride is the sole tight end in the game’s exclusive 99 Club at launch, joining only five other absolute studs: Myles Garrett, Josh Allen, Matthew Stafford, Ja’Marr Chase, and our Seahawk, Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Madden NFL 27 drops on August 13, and it’s already got us hyped seeing our guys recognized among the league’s elite.
McBride’s Monster Year and a New Role
McBride’s ascent to the 99 Club is no fluke, either. The dude put up an All-Pro 2025 season in Glendale, even with quarterback musical chairs. He led all tight ends with an insane 1,239 receiving yards and ranked sixth among *all* pass-catchers. Oh, and he set a single-season positional record with 126 catches. That’s a ridiculous stat line! McBride himself sounds stoked about the honor, saying it’s cool that the player he always wanted to create in Madden, a 99 OVR, is now him.
Now, as one of the longest-tenured Cardinals, McBride is stepping up. With Kyler Murray gone from the desert, he’s ready to lead the team, claiming they need “a new guy on the offensive side” and asking, “why not me?” That’s a confident stance for a guy in the toughest division in football.
Talking Trash in the NFC West
Speaking of tough divisions, McBride is already puffing his chest about the NFC West. He straight-up called it “the hardest division in football” and said all of their games last year were close. He’s even out here saying they “should have beat” a lot of those teams and are “just as good, if not better,” than the reigning champion Seattle Seahawks, the Los Angeles Rams, and the San Francisco 49ers. Excuse me, what? Did he forget his Cardinals went winless in the division last year? Yeah, they had consecutive single-score losses to the Niners and our Seahawks early in 2025, but close only counts in horseshoes, buddy. You gotta make the plays! He thinks they just need to “get over the hump” and “make a few more plays.” Alright, man, we’ll see about that.
The Cardinals’ competitiveness this year hinges on their quarterback situation, too. Jacoby Brissett’s contract dispute is settled with a reworked deal, but coach Mike LaFleur hasn’t committed to him as QB1. McBride has been practicing with both Brissett and Gardner Minshew II, looking to build on the connection he had with Brissett last season after Brissett took over for Murray in Week 6. He’s also seen enough from 2026 third-round pick Carson Beck to be convinced he’ll be a great player eventually. It sounds like a competitive year is definitely coming for the NFC West, especially when guys like McBride are already throwing down the gauntlet.
The upcoming season is gonna be a battle, no doubt. With Jaxon Smith-Njigba getting that 99 OVR, our Seahawks are clearly ready to defend their crown. When the Cardinals roll into Lumen Field, you know the 12s will be ready to remind McBride exactly who runs this division.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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