The upcoming update will be the second of three major ones slated for the Franchise mode in Madden 21, and it’s set to drop in mid-January. The details of what’s included in the new update—including how the CPU will draft and changes to the Commissioner Tools—have been published over on the official Madden blog. (We don’t know when that third update will arrive, although EA confirms it’ll arrive sometime in February.)

Here’s the complete developers note on what Madden fans can count on in the latest Franchise Mode update:

CPU QB Draft Logic Improvements

This first update comes from community feedback and changes the way the CPU drafts quarterbacks in the first round.

“As a part of our next update, we have added new logic checks that CPU teams will use to guide whether they should even be interested in drafting a QB when they’re on the clock in Round 1,” the blog post reads. “Now, teams will evaluate their roster and previous draft picks of the last two years to keep teams from replacing players too soon.”

Logic Details

Commissioner Controls: Undo FA Signings - Offseason Only

Their current starting QB was a 1st round pick in the last two DraftsTheir current starting QB was a 2nd/3rd round pick in the last two DraftsAnd has a Normal Dev and 72+ OVRAnd has Star or higher Dev traitTheir current starting QB is a 94+ OVRTheir current starting QB is 87+ OVR and 32+ years oldTheir current starting QB is 74+ OVR and < 29 years oldTheir current backup QB is a Star or higher Dev Trait and < 28 years old

Lastly, if a team’s current starting QB is over 35, the team will consider drafting a replacement.

As always, whether the team actually does draft a QB is dependent upon many factors, and like real life, there can still be times where a team decides a player is just too good to pass up depending on the situation. The Draft is full of surprises!

Commissioner Controls: Team Override Settings

Commissioner Draft Tools

Commissioner House Rules: Play Cool-Down and Repeat Play Limits

Commissioner Setting - X-Factor Customization Restrictions

FUTURE FRANCHISE MODE UPDATES

Trade Logic Improvements

Franchise League History

What do you think of the latest round of updates for Franchise mode? Let us know in the comments section.