Getty Image / Rob Carr
The famed football video game franchise Madden is set to release Madden 25 on August 16 to the delight and criticism of loyal players. As the only NFL-licensed football sim game, it’s bound to be scrutinized.
One of the most scrutinized parts of the game every year are player rankings, especially those at quarterback. With the rankings at the position being released on Friday, they’ve fallen under criticism again, including from former NFL quarterback Kurt Benkert.
Here’s the top ten at the position
- Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes – 99ovr
- Ravens QB Lamar Jackson – 98ovr
- Bengals QB Joe Burrow – 93ovr
- Bills QB Josh Allen – 92ovr
- Cowboys QB Dak Prescott – 90ovr
- Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa – 88ovr
- Chargers QB Justin Herbert -87ovr
- Eagles QB Jalen Hurts – 86ovr
- 49ers QB Brock Purdy – 85ovr
- Falcons QB Kirk Cousins -84ovr
You might be wondering where Houston Texans quarterback CJ Stroud is ranked. He’s tied for 14th with Packers quarterback Jordan Love at 81 overall.
Not to just pick on Brock Purdy exclusively here, and he had a great season last year in San Francisco. But, how many people think that he’s a better quarterback than CJ Stroud or even Jordan Love? Aaron Rodgers is ranked behind him, and if they could immediately switch out Purdy for Rodgers, discounting money and all other factors that don’t matter in a video game overall rating, they would.
Former NFL quarterback and current football influencer Kurt Benkert took exception with the rankings.
“This is getting out of hand, @EAMaddenNFL let’s talk ball and get these ratings right.. CJ Stroud & Jordan Love are 14th and 15th ratings wise out of all of these QBs in Madden. Both are top 10 in real life,” he said on Twitter.
So, why is CJ Stroud ranked so low? This is what one of the EA Sports ratings adjusters had to say.
Nah we good here, 1 year of production will never put you into top 10
— Ratings Adjustin Smith (@Equipment_Guru) August 2, 2024
you can never rule out a one year wonder until they continue the ascent in a 2nd year, always been the case, fans have been duped before and we avoid it for just that reason, if they ball out first 2-3 weeks it's pretty much a given they climb into top 10
— Ratings Adjustin Smith (@Equipment_Guru) August 2, 2024
I get his point about sample size. But, I think pretty much everyone would have Stroud and probably even Jordan Love rated higher than they are. Stroud played at a higher level than an 81ovr all season last year, and Love was absolutely dynamite his last ten or so starts, earning him a monster contract. That contract may be too rich given what he’s accomplished, but he’s a better football player than his rating here.
Plus, does anyone truly think Lamar Jackson is that much better than Joe Burrow and Josh Allen? That’s a pretty huge gap for a guy who struggles to produce through the air in the playoffs.
Ultimately, it’s just a video game, and they are aggressive early in the season bumping these second-year players or second-year starters like Jordan Love up. But, right now, the ratings don’t look great.