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Madden Ratings Aren’t Finished Yet: An Inside Look At The New 99 Club, Notable 90s, And Snubs

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Player reactions to their Madden ratings are one of my personal favorite things about the NFL. Everyone always thinks they belong in the exclusive Madden 99 club. It’s a fraternity that only gives out bids to the league’s most elite players. This year there was originally only room for three. Let’s take a closer look at the recently updated 99 club, notable players with rankings in the 90s, and finally, snubs.

Madden 99 Club

Aaron Donald, RE, Los Angeles Rams

Donald is pretty comfortable in his seat in the Madden 99 club at this point. He’s held the 99 overall rating for 4 consecutive years now, dating back to Madden NFL 18. Donald is without a doubt one of the most dominant defensive players in the NFL. His speed rating is a shocking 82. That’s higher than several quarterbacks! Better get rid of the ball quickly if you’re squaring up against Donald and the Rams D in Madden NFL 2021.

Christian McCaffrey, RB, Carolina Panthers

McCaffrey is of three players in NFL history to accumulate 1,000 rushing yards and 1,000 receiving yards in a single season. The man is an absolute stud and a fantasy PPR monster. He’s also pretty unfair on Madden. McCaffrey’s contract extension made him the highest-paid RB in the NFL. The Madden rating adjustors had no choice but to give CMC the 99 overall rating heading into this season. George Kittle (49ers TE) said the dude should get the 99 overall rating for his biceps alone lol.

Patrick Mahomes, QB, Kansas City Chiefs

Last, but certainly not least, Mr. Half-Billion, Patrick Mahomes. Mahomes was last year’s Madden cover athlete and finished the season as the Superbowl LIV MVP. Mahomes threw for 50 touchdowns and over 5,000 yards in 2018 (his first season as a starter) and followed it up with the aforementioned Super Bowl victory against the 49ers in February. With his recent 10-year contract extension, it’s safe to say that he is in Kansas City to stay.

Stephon Gilmore, CB, New England Patriots

Gilmore moved up from 94 in the previous game to the 99 overall rating in Madden 2021. Last year he was tied for third but is now the no.1 rated defensive back in Madden. Gilmore led the NFL in interceptions (six) and passes defended (20) last season and was named a first-team All-Pro and a Pro Bowler. There were originally only three members of this edition of the Madden 99 club. Gilmore made four, and now there are five.

Michael Thomas, WR, New Orleans Saints

You officially can’t guard Mike. Michael Thomas is the fifth and final member of this year’s Madden 99 club (for now). It’s a very deserved reward for Thomas after his outstanding 2019 campaign. He earned recognition as the NFL Offensive Player of the Year after setting a new single-season record for receptions (149). Thomas was also named a first-team All-Pro and was voted into his third consecutive Pro Bowl trip.

Notable 90’s

1) Russell Wilson, QB, Seatle Seahawks, 97

2) Lamar Jackson, QB, Baltimore Ravens, 94

3) Derrick Henry, RB, Tennessee Titans, 93

4) Ezekiel Elliot, RB, Dallas Cowboys, 92

5) Saquon Barkley, RB, New York Giants, 91 (snub?)

Snubs

Finally, my favorite category of all, the snubs. Aaron Rodgers’ (Packers QB) 89 overall Madden rating sent the Twitterverse into a spiral. In my opinion, an 89 is about right for 36-year-old Rodgers. Although, 95-year-old Tom Brady did get a 90 overall. I think the bigger story is Deshaun Watson (86 overall). Watson is every bit as talented as Jackson or Mahomes. I don’t think the Chiefs would have missed a beat with 24-year-old Deshaun Watson at the helm. The AFC Divisional showdown between Watson and Mahomes was fantastic (aside from a few detrimental calls by O’brien). Watson deserves a 90 at the very least. Lastly, Kyler Murray. Murray is very upset with his 77 overall Madden rating, and I don’t blame him. The Cardinals weren’t very good last year, but it’s a criminal rating for someone with his athletic ability. Murray said on ESPN’s First Take that he thought his rating was a joke. He did seem to keep his cool, however.

Honorable mention snub goes out to Alvin Kamara. Kamara’s production did dip a bit last season, but he’s still an elite player. An 88 overall Madden rating is still very high, but I put him in the same echelon as the other RBs rated in the 90s. Kamara was pretty satisfied with his overall rating. Although, there was one specific rating he had some beef with.

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