Madden 26: Best Free 99 Theme Surge Players to Upgrade

With Part Two of the Theme Team Surge promo live, this guide covers the best free 99 overall players to upgrade and the best ability stacks for them. These cards get two passive X-Factor buckets and cost about 21,580 Surge to upgrade from 92 to 99. If you find yourself short on Surge Currency and want to skip the grind, you can buy Madden 26 coins from trusted marketplaces to acquire the cards needed to quick-sell for Surge, speeding up your progression significantly.

Be selective. Downgrading does not refund all your Surge, and this currency never converts to coins.

Best Ways to Earn Surge Currency

Skip the CPU and Head-to-Head events. Instead, play Solo Seasons or regular Head-to-Head Seasons. You earn packs that quick-sell for training, then use that training on the 94+ Theme Surge reroll. Pulling 97s or 99s gives you lots of Surge. Head-to-Head Seasons also have easier competition than the event.

Getting Base 92 Cards

Base 92s cost roughly 15,000–22,000 coins. The $2.50 pack lets you pick four Part Two 92s. The training store has Champion Fantasy Packs for 52,000 training (about 17,000–18,000 coins).

Quarterback – Sam Darnold (Part Two)

Best QB option. Gets Gambit + Dots for 4 AP total. Gambit combines Pass Lead Elite and Gunslinger. Dots replaces all deadeye abilities.

Stack (left to right): Conductor (0), Gift Wrapped (0), Fearless (0), Gambit (2), Quick Draw (0), Dots (2)

Running Back – Travon Etienne (Part Two)

Smaller backs are shiftier. 5'9", stock 99 speed.

Stack: Tank (0), Human Joystick (0), Route Tech (0), TR (2), Evasive (0), Yac 'Em Up (2)

Total AP: 4

Wide Receiver – Alamade Zayquan (Part Two)

5'8" with stock 99 speed. Only WR in the promo who gets Yac 'Em Up (99 Break Tackle).

Stack: Tank (0), Human Joystick (0), Route Tech (0), Max Security (2), Evasive (0), Yac 'Em Up (0)

Total AP: 2

Tight End – Pat Freiermuth

No change from Part One. Most TEs get the same stack.

Stack: Mid Route Elite (0), Route Tech (0), Tank (0), Max Security (2) or Vanguard (3), Short Route Elite (0)

Offensive Line – Any OL

All promo offensive linemen get Vanguard.

Stack: Secure Protector (0), Nasty Streak (0), All Day (0), Omniscient (0), Vanguard (3)

Defensive End – Chauncey Golston (Part Two)

93 speed, 96 acceleration. No Unstoppable Force (only John Abraham has that).

Stack: Tip Drill (0), Double or Nothing (0), Tackle Supreme (0), Colossus (2), BOGO (0), Relentless (0) or Avalanche (2)

Defensive Tackle – Dayo Odeyingbo (Part Two)

93 speed, 97 acceleration. Reinforcement counters the Vanguard/direct snap meta.

Stack: Tip Drill (0), Tackle Supreme (0), Inside Stuff (0), Reinforcement (2), Run Stopper (0), Unstoppable Force (2)

Total AP: 4 – Makes him one of the best DTs in the game.

Linebacker – Drew Sanders

6'5", 97 speed. Gets Universal Coverage (no knockout abilities needed).

Stack: Lurk Artist (0), Tackle Supreme (0), Out My Way (0), Universal Coverage (2), (any 0 AP), Avalanche (2)

Alternative – Ji'Ayir Campbell: 98 stock speed but no Universal Coverage. Stack: Lurk Artist (0), Deep Zone KO (0), Mid Zone KO (0), Tackle Supreme (0), Avalanche (2)

Cornerback – Devon Revel Jr.

Best CB. 6'2" with 99 speed, 99 man, 98 zone.

Zone stack: Deep Zone KO (0), Tackle Supreme (0), Mid Zone KO (0), Pick Artist (0), Zone Hawk (2)

Man stack: Deep Route KO (0), Tackle Supreme (0), Mid Route KO (0), One Step Ahead (0), Shutdown (2)

Strong Safety – Jeremy Reeves (Part Two)

5'11". Fine in zone coverage. Do not use him in man.

Stack: Deep Zone KO (0), Tackle Supreme (0), Mid Zone KO (0), Avalanche (2), Pick Artist (0), Zone Hawk (2)

Final Tips

Part Two cards are better than Part One. Part Three drops next Thursday. Be selective with upgrades. Surge never converts to coins, so if you need extra resources to finish your team, consider visiting MMOEXP to buy Mut 26 coins for building your roster through the auction house. Use the ability stacks above for best results.