Like clockwork the NFL season comes and goes, breaking hearts and getting up the hopes of fans everywhere. Be it the Philadelphia Eagles who are flying high or the Denver Broncos breaking under the weight of expectation, the teams that litter the league are ripe for video games, and Madden usually delivers on the promises of a solid gaming franchise based on the brand. Madden 24 will surely be the name of the next title, and succeeding Madden 23 will require a high level of proficiency as there is always a huge market for the EA product.

The gameplay hasn't changed significantly over the years, but the revolving door that is the National Football League means that the most significant change to Madden each year is the swathe of new players. Performances aren't always consistent in the NFL, and so the best players in each annual game are never the same as what came before. A new batch will likely occupy the coveted 99 Club, and there are a handful of people in the league today who are playing well enough to find themselves with a suitably high rating.

RELATED: The NFL Blitz Remasters Deserve Console Releases

Patrick Mahomes

patrick mahomes madden snubs

Patrick Mahomes is the face of the NFL and the Kansas City Chiefs, and it's easy to see why. A championship and MVP honors already under his belt make him a decorated player to any defensive unit in the league. Pair his ability to make any throw and his strong leadership with on-field success thanks to Andy Reid's sublime offensive philosophy, and Mahomes is in the best position to succeed in the long term. There are only three players that have a rating higher than him in Madden 23, but this still somehow seems like a surprise.

One such player is tight end Travis Kelce, who undoubtedly shines as bright as he does because of his quarterback as well as his obvious natural ability. Patrick Mahomes is a dual-threat player who can sting Madden opponents with his accuracy and his agility, and though players can use him as a skin in Fortnite, Madden should be the game where he is the most coveted, and that means giving him a rating that is in line with his unrelenting ability.

Justin Jefferson

Justin Jefferson Madden 23

A first-round pick from LSU in 2020, Justin Jefferson has only got better during his time in the NFL, which has culminated in a 2022/23 season that has been nothing short of historic. His single-season numbers are right up there with Randy Moss, even exceeding the Hall of Famer in many categories. MVP honors are usually reserved for quarterbacks, but a high rating on Madden knows no such restrictions, and wide receivers are so incredibly useful in the EA franchise.

Justin Jefferson currently holds a 97 overall score, with agility, speed, acceleration, awareness, and catching all in the 90s, also. He's the complete wide receiver in more ways than one, and in the virtual space, it's important to have a consistent reliable first read to make eating up the yards feel like an easy accomplishment. Justin Jefferson is having a season to remember and is the linchpin of the Vikings' offense, despite sharing a field with Adan Thielen and Dalvin Cook. He wasn't happy with his Madden 22 rating, and his performances this year show that he was right. He deserves better.

RELATED: All the EA Games Being Shut Down in 2023

Joe Burrow

Joe-Burrow-Madden-23

Joe Burrow has been nothing short of spectacular since he entered the NFL as the first overall pick in 2020. In college, he was the quarterback that the aforementioned Justin Jefferson was catching passes from, so it's little wonder that LSU romped to the National Championship. In the NFL, the Cincinnati Bengals have been the beneficiaries of Joe Burrow's magic, with an appearance in Super Bowl 56 cementing him as one of the best signal callers in the sport.

Burrow's trajectory into the elite has been a gradual, but predictable process. His agility doesn't rival Josh Allen, and the strength of his arm isn't near Patrick Mahomes', but Joe Burrow is silently consistent and plays the game with the confidence that he is a jack of all trades and master of a few more. In Madden 23 he sits at 92 overall, six points shy of Mahomes' 98, but the reality is that he is by no means that far away from the player the Chiefs have under center. Madden 24 should show that.

Nick Bosa

Nick-Bosa-Madden-Superstar-X-Factor-1920x1080

Nick Bosa defied convention and despite having an older brother who has had an illustrious career in the NFL, he's been even better than Joey Bosa of the Los Angeles Chargers. He's one of the most formidable defensive players in the NFL and is one of the few who fans believe could be in with a shout of Defensive Player of the Year at the close of the 22/23 season.

He's currently sitting pretty at 97 overall, but with 17.5 sacks on the year, there is no logical reason why he would dip below that, and as he's only getting older and more experienced, now is the time for Nick Bosa to make the jump to 99. He was a prospect with all the potential in the world, now he's a near-unstoppable force who is an essential piece of the San Francisco 49ers' incredibly effective defensive unit.

Madden NFL 23 is available for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.

MORE: Madden Needs a Game Mode Like NBA 2K23's Jordan Challenge