When Madden NFL 23 releases tomorrow, fans will once again be gearing up to lead their favorite teams and players to the Lombardi Trophy. Hype for the series returns year after year as new Madden features augment the game modes that fans know and love. Even as some fans tire of the same old formula, the franchise’s sales continue to skyrocket, be it because of tradition, FOMO, or a love of football.
One aspect that always draws attention are the Madden player ratings. Fans, and even players, take the rankings personally. This season, Madden NFL 23 is no different. Despite EA’s best efforts, the heralded rating adjusters always seem to get a few key players’ ratings wrong each year.
Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
In four years as a starting quarterback in the NFL, Patrick Mahomes has led the Kansas City Chiefs to four consecutive AFC Championships, two Super Bowls, and one Super Bowl victory. Along the way, he won an MVP award, made four Pro Bowl appearances, and set numerous records. Despite everything that Mahomes has accomplished, he was still left out of Madden’s 99 Club, reserved for the best players in football.
Mahomes’ current rating of 95 is still among the best quarterbacks in Madden, third behind the ageless wonders Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers. However, Mahomes should be the top-rated quarterback in the game given there’s simply no one in the NFL that can do the things he does. It wouldn't be surprising to see Patrick Mahomes regain his 99 rating during the season.
Deebo Samuel, San Francisco 49ers
Many of the things said about Mahomes ring true for Deebo Samuel as well. His current rating of 89, while respectable, is not reflective of his standing among his peers. Samuel currently ranks as the 15th best wide receiver in Madden, despite having better production than those ranked above him - a list that includes DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, and Terry McLaurin. While each is a fine player, their talent pales in comparison to Samuel.
In 2021, Samuel won First Team All-Pro honors, with only Davonte Adams and Cooper Kupp receiving more votes. The difference between Samuel’s NFL performance and Madden rating likely stems from his rushing ability. Toward the end of the 2021 season, San Francisco started deploying Samuel as both a running back and a receiver during games. The 49ers had instant success, turning Samuel into one of the most efficient rushers in the league, but this doesn’t impact his overall rating as a receiver. Since he is still classified as a receiver, Samuel is stuck with his 89 rating for now.
Antonio Gibson, Washington Commanders
While he doesn’t have the same recognition as Mahomes or Samuel, Antonio Gibson should be just as upset about his Madden rating. Gibson comes in with an 80 rating, 30th best among Madden running backs, placing him below players like Tony Pollard, Devin Singletary, and even Chris Carson, who retired in the offseason. This low rating comes despite Gibson having the sixth most rushing yards in the NFL in 2021, behind only the top running backs. Gibson did lead the NFL in fumbles last season, which could contribute to a lower rating, but the rest of his production speaks for itself.
Madden NFL 23 launches August 19 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.