The news of Odell Beckham Jr. being voted the youngest ever to be on the cover of Madden is still fresh, and it’s also the first first sign that the game’s release is on the horizon.

Which means there’s only one thing to do: Figure out what team to dominate your Connected Franchise with next season.

For some, picking a team for a franchise mode is almost as important as anything you will ever do in your life. That’s why we’re getting this out of the way now, three months before the game comes out. With the NFL Draft and free agency finished (at least for the most part beyond some post-June 1 cuts that may shake things up), there’s a little more roster clarity.

Having a three-month head start might help you clear your head and figure out what team is a better option for you. On some level, it would make sense to make a case for each of the 32 teams, but hopefully narrowing it down to just five teams will help crystallize things a bit more.

Important note: Tampa Bay and Tennessee are obvious choices that will be omitted from this list. A lot of people will jump at the chance to play with Jameis Winston or Marcus Mariota. For this list, we’ll look beyond those two teams.

Here are five teams, in no particular order, which you should think about for your franchise mode in Madden 16.

Miami Dolphins – If you’re a team in the AFC East, then it's more than likely that any move you make will be overlooked because the New England Patriots are still a twice-a-year opponent. It's not fair on some level, but the Patriots have won 11 of the last 12 AFC East titles, including the last six.

And if you need more proof of that, look no further than when the Dolphins signed Ndamukong Suh to a monster contract this offseason. No one really talked about Miami, despite signing the best free agent of this year’s class and forming a defensive line that’s quite scary.

But here’s your chance to turn the Dolphins into a top contender in the AFC. Putting Suh with Cameron Wake and Olivier Vernon gives you a fearsome front four. Not only that, but Miami has put together an offense worthy of attention as well.

Drafting DeVante Parker gives Ryan Tannehill a new weapon to go along with Kenny Stills and Greg Jennings. Parker can become the next great receiver in Miami in about two years, and you can also move Miami out of Sun Life Stadium because that just makes sense.

Buffalo Bills – Speaking of the AFC East, the Bills would be another team to consider for your franchise for many reasons.

For one, much like the Dolphins, you can relocate or build a new stadium after the first season (if you want). Also, Buffalo has put together a quality roster in the offseason that could also rival the evil empire that is New England.

Rex Ryan comes over from the Jets, LeSean McCoy is now the starting running back and most importantly Sammy Watkins is in his second season playing out wide, which only spells more danger for opposing defenses. The only question that will surround you, at least the first year, is the quarterback position. How EJ Manuel plays will potentially lead to you using your first-round pick the next season on a new quarterback.

Either way, the Bills have a talented defense with a couple great young corners, including 2015 second-round draft pick Ronald Darby. The Bills should be a highly desirable team in CFM.
 

Atlanta Falcons – In video game land, the Falcons are too good to be an annual franchise team.

But the situation with Atlanta is interesting, based on the division they’re in, and the roster general manager Thomas Dimitroff and head coach Dan Quinn have put together. Julio Jones enters the season in a contract year, and you’ll be prepared to pay him as much money as you want. Matt Ryan is still a good quarterback when healthy and there’s a chance Roddy White has a couple of good years left.

The Falcons addressed defense in the draft by getting Vic Beasley as the edge rusher they desperately needed, and Jalen Collins is a potential number one cornerback. But they might have gotten one of the steals in the draft in Tevin Coleman, who is hopefully their running back of the future -- to go along with Devonta Freeman.

Atlanta may seem old, and the defense is still questionable, but they have young talent across the board. And here’s a plus: If Madden has the Falcons’ new stadium in the game two years into franchise mode, then that saves you the trouble of having to replace the Georgia Dome.

Oakland Raiders – Think about this: The Raiders could be good next year. When was the last time playing with Oakland in Madden seemed reasonable? Madden 09?

It just makes sense. Derek Carr is in his second season as the quarterback, and he now has Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree to throw the ball to.

But this is why Oakland is a good fit: sweet, sweet salary-cap space.

The Raiders could have anywhere between $60 million to $80 million in cap space for a 2016 free-agency class that will have some notable names. Dez Bryant and Demaryius Thomas are a couple of guys that will be available if the Cowboys and Broncos decide not to extend them during the season. They could also get some offensive linemen and a couple of good, young corners with the money at their disposal.

You can always build with the Raiders in the draft, but having that money is going to help you land star players. After all, the best part about this being a video game is that you will not have to be like Oakland Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie and beg players to take your money -- or worse overpay for average players.

Jacksonville Jaguars – The only reason to have Jacksonville on this list is to ship them off to London (wow, that felt mean to say).

But there’s some talent to work with here in the meantime. Blake Bortles is in his second year and now has Julius Thomas as his dynamic tight end. The young receiving corps also features Marquise Lee and Allen Robinson. You might have to play without Dante Fowler Jr. for the first year, but it could be worth it.

Just move them to London, though. That’s really their only purpose.