Though the Madden video game franchise gets scrutinized almost every year for its lack of realism and ingenuity, it’s a guilty pleasure of mine every football season. You’re lying to yourself if you say you don’t get the itch to build the Eagles into a dynasty in franchise mode once football season rolls around.
The overall player ratings for Madden 23 have slowly been leaking as the launch of the game gets closer. On Monday, we got a glimpse of the wide receiver and tight end ratings this year. Here’s how the Eagles faired:
- A.J. Brown: 87 OVR
- Dallas Goedert: 85 OVR
- DeVonta Smith: 83 OVR
- Zach Pascal: 78 OVR
- Quez Watkins: 76 OVR
- Jalen Reagor: 74 OVR
- Greg Ward: 71 OVR
Of these players, Dallas Goedert was the only one to rank inside the top-10 at his position. He placed eighth behind Travis Kelce (98), George Kittle (97), Mark Andrews (93), Darren Waller (91), T.J. Hockenson (89), Kyle Pitts (87), and Mike Giesicki (86). You could make an argument that Goedert should be a bit higher, but he didn’t have the volume that any of these guys had last year so his placement at eighth is understandable.
At wide receiver, A.J. Brown is the highest rated wideout on the Eagles with an 87 overall, which places him 18th among all wideouts. There are plenty of Eagles fans who believe he’s a top-10 pass catcher in the league, but let’s be honest, there are a lot of great receivers in today’s NFL. For instance, both Ja’Marr Chase and Brandin Cooks have 87 overalls as well, and both were more productive than Brown last season.
I would have ranked DeVonta Smith a little higher, especially in the route running category. Smith isn’t a top-10 route runner in Madden 23 and that’s just a travesty. He’s already one of the more polished route runners in football; he should be in the top-10.
On the other hand, the Madden team did give Quez Watkins some warranted recognition as a speedster. Watkins will have a 98 speed rating this year along with 95 acceleration. The 98 speed rating is tied for the second-highest among wideouts with rookie Jameson Williams and right behind Tyreek Hill’s 99 status. I don’t think his overall rating should be lower than Zach Pascal’s, but I imagine by season’s end it will be higher.
All in all, the Eagles should be one of the better teams to use in Madden this year. Having a mobile quarterback in Jalen Hurts is always a plus and having a wideout as fast as Watkins can be game breaking.
I for one can’t wait to take the Eagles to the promised land in franchise mode this year. It’s become an annual tradition for me and won’t die any time soon.
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