If you’re 30 years old, you’re out.

I don’t know about you, but when I start a Madden 13 franchise, I’ll turn my roster upside down with a youth movement—like I do every other year. If you’re a wannabe GM too with an obsession about only acquiring players 25 and under, here are a handful of rookies you've got to trade for to kick off your inaugural campaign.

 

3. Dontari Poe and Stephen Hill

In terms of their development as real NFL players, Poe and Hill are surrounded by a ton of question marks. They were made for Madden, though.

At 6’4”, 346 pounds, Poe ran a blazing 4.87 40-yard dash at the NFL combine, recorded a 32-inch vertical and bench pressed 225 pounds for 44 reps. His speed, strength and explosive ratings on Madden should be elite for his position. If you develop him properly, no one is running up the middle on you.

And Hill is the wide receiver version of Poe. At 6’4”, 215 pounds, Hill recorded a 4.36 40-time and a 39.5 inch vertical. Can you say, “Fades all day?”

 

2. Trent Richardson and Justin Blackmon or Kendall Wright and Lamar Miller

It depends. Are you a just-give-me-talent guy, or do you have a need for speed?

According to Pasta Padre, Richardson will start out at 83 overall with a 95 trucking rating. Donny Moore of EA Sports wrote in his Rating Czar Mock Draft about Blackmon that he’ll “be one of the top-rated WR 2012 draft prospects in terms of Route Running, Catching, Release, Stiff Arm, and Strength.”

While Richardson and Blackmon are sure to have some of the highest ceilings in the game, if you like speed, they won’t satisfy you.

Meanwhile, Wright ran a 4.41 at his pro day and drew comparisons to Mike Wallace during the draft process. And Miller is the fastest rookie running back in the game with a 94 speed and 96 acceleration rating.

 

1. Andrew Luck or Robert Griffin III

If you prefer a pocket passer, Luck is your man. He’s already rated 84 overall—higher than Alex Smith and Ryan Fitzpatrick. He’ll be difficult to trade for, but believe me, when he’s 99 overall in three or four years, it’ll be worth it.

While Luck has a solid 82 speed rating, it doesn’t touch RGIII’s 93—even Michael Vick only boasts a speed rating of 90. And on top of his insane speed, Griffin is already 83 overall as well.

If you love to scramble, Griffin is the passer for you. There won’t be many linebackers in the game with enough athleticism to run him down on a QB spy.

 

David Daniels is a featured columnist at Bleacher Report and a syndicated writer.

Follow @TheRealDDaniels