‘Madden NFL 22’ ratings: Best players in the NFL, according to EA Sports

It’s officially that time of the year, as sports gamers ready themselves for the release of “Madden NFL 22,” set to hit stores in August 2021.

This year’s game is an important installment for EA Sports, with pressure on developers to showcase what they can bring to the table for newer-generation consoles like the PlayStation 5 and the Xbox Series X.

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Ahead of a groundbreaking release on August 20, 2021, the gaming juggernaut began to announce ratings for this year’s game, continuing with a slow and steady approach that EA Sports began utilizing in years past.

On July 26, EA Sports kicked things off by releasing the ratings for the game’s top 10 wide receivers, with Green Bay Packers star Davante Adams becoming the first member of the prestigious “99 Club” as a 99 overall.

Another #99Club for @tae15adams 👏 @Packers | #Madden22 pic.twitter.com/EBDCu9EF3C

— Madden NFL 22 (@EAMaddenNFL) July 26, 2021

Wide receivers:

1. Davante Adams, Green Bay Packers: 99 overall
2. DeAndre Hopkins, Arizona Cardinals: 98 overall
3. Tyreek Hill, Kansas City Chiefs: 98 overall
4. Stefon Diggs, Buffalo Bills: 97 overall
5. Julio Jones, Tennessee Titans: 95 overall
6. Michael Thomas, New Orleans Saints: 94 overall
7. Keenan Allen, Los Angeles Chargers: 93 overall
8. Amari Cooper, Dallas Cowboys: 92 overall
9. Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 91 overall
10. Allen Robinson, Chicago Bears: 90 overall

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle’s 76 overall was the highest rating among rookie wideouts.

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On July 27, EA Sports announced the ratings for the game’s top 10 defensive linemen and the top 10 edge rushers, capped off by Los Angeles Rams star Aaron Donald, a frequent flyer in the “99 Club.”

Might as well rename it to the #AD99 Club. @AaronDonald97 x @EAMaddenNFL pic.twitter.com/Jt7r2RSK3N

— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) July 27, 2021

Defensive linemen:

1. Aaron Donald, Los Angeles Rams: 99 overall
2. Fletcher Cox, Philadelphia Eagles: 94 overall
3. Chris Jones, Kansas City Chiefs: 92 overall
4. DeForest Buckner, Indianapolis Colts: 92 overall
5. Cameron Heyward, Pittsburgh Steelers: 92 overall
6. Michael Pierce, Minnesota Vikings: 91 overall
7. Calais Campbell, Baltimore Ravens: 90 overall
8. Kenny Clark, Green Bay Packers: 89 overall
9. Stephon Tuitt, Pittsburgh Steelers: 89 overall
10. Vita Vea, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 88 overall

Edge rushers:

1. Myles Garrett, Cleveland Browns: 98 overall
2. Khalil Mack, Chicago Bears: 96 overall
3. T.J. Watt, Pittsburgh Steelers: 94 overall
4. Chandler Jones, Arizona Cardinals: 94 overall
5. J.J. Watt, Arizona Cardinals: 94 overall
6. Cameron Jordan, New Orleans Saints: 93 overall
7. Von Miller, Denver Broncos: 93 overall
8. Joey Bosa, Los Angeles Chargers: 92 overall
9. Nick Bosa, San Francisco 49ers: 90 overall
10. Za’Darius Smith, Green Bay Packers: 89 overall

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On July 28, EA Sports put out the game’s top 10 running backs and tight ends, with Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey taking top honors as a 97 overall, and Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce joining the “99 Club.”

🔘 105 Rec
🔘 1,416 Yards
🔘 11 TDs

Welcome back to the #99Club @TKelce 🙌 #Madden22 pic.twitter.com/kzzHLgc0LD

— Madden NFL 22 (@EAMaddenNFL) July 28, 2021

Running backs:

1. Christian McCaffrey, Carolina Panthers: 97 overall
2. Derrick Henry, Tennessee Titans: 96 overall
3. Nick Chubb, Cleveland Browns: 96 overall
4. Dalvin Cook, Minnesota Vikings: 95 overall
5. Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints: 94 overall
6. Aaron Jones, Green Bay Packers: 91 overall
7. Saquon Barkley, New York Giants: 90 overall
8. Josh Jacobs, Las Vegas Raiders: 89 overall
9. Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas Cowboys: 88 overall
10. Joe Mixon, Cincinnati Bengals: 88 overall

Tight ends:

1. Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs: 99 overall
2. George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers: 96 overall
3. Darren Waller, Las Vegas Raiders: 93 overall
4. Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens: 88 overall
5. Hunter Henry, New England Patriots: 87 overall
6. Austin Hooper, Cleveland Browns: 86 overall
7. Rob Gronkowski, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 86 overall
8. Mike Gesicki, Miami Dolphins: 85 overall
9. T.J. Hockenson, Detroit Lions: 85 overall
10. Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia Eagles: 84 overall

Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts’ 81 overall was the highest rating among rookie tight ends, and the highest rookie rating in Madden 22.

On July 29, EA Sports put out the ratings for the top safeties and cornerbacks in the league, with Los Angeles Rams cornerback Jalen Ramsey representing the lone “99 Club” member to come from a team’s secondary.

The best corner in the league 🔒⬇️@jalenramsey x @EAMaddenNFL pic.twitter.com/zGSpVMqoSw

— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) July 29, 2021

Safeties:

1. Tyrann Mathieu, Kansas City Chiefs: 95 overall
2. Budda Baker, Arizona Cardinals: 93 overall
3. Devin McCourty, New England Patriots: 92 overall
4. Jessie Bates III, Cincinnati Bengals: 91 overall
5. Justin Simmons, Denver Broncos: 91 overall
6. Jamal Adams, Seattle Seahawks: 90 overall
7. Harrison Smith, Minnesota Vikings: 90 overall
8. Eddie Jackson, Chicago Bears: 89 overall
9. Adrian Amos, Green Bay Packers: 89 overall
10. Minkah Fitzpatrick, Pittsburgh Steelers: 89 overall

Cornerbacks:

1. Jalen Ramsey, Los Angeles Rams: 99 overall
2. Stephon Gilmore, New England Patriots: 97 overall
3. Jaire Alexander, Green Bay Packers: 95 overall
4. Tre’Davious White, Buffalo Bills: 93 overall
5. Marlon Humphrey, Baltimore Ravens: 92 overall
6. Xavien Howard, Miami Dolphins: 91 overall
7. James Bradberry IV, New York Giants: 90 overall
8. Denzel Ward, Cleveland Browns: 89 overall
9. Kendall Fuller, Washington Football Team: 89 overall
10. Darius Slay Jr., Philadelphia Eagles: 88 overall

One day later, arguably the biggest release of the year came when EA Sports dropped the ratings for the league’s quarterbacks, led by Kansas City Chiefs star Patrick Mahomes’ 99 overall rating.

Your #Madden22 99 Club members. 🔥 (via @thecheckdown)@EAMaddenNFL pic.twitter.com/4earGhq20D

— NFL (@NFL) July 30, 2021

Quarterbacks:

1. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs: 99 overall
2. Tom Brady, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 97 overall
3. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers: 96 overall
4. Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks: 94 overall
5. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens: 90 overall
6. Deshaun Watson, Houston Texans: 90 overall
7. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills: 88 overall
8. Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys: 87 overall
9. Ryan Tannehill, Tennessee Titans: 87 overall
10. Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons: 85 overall

Finally, EA Sports completed their ratings release by revealing stats for the league’s linebackers, led by San Francisco 49ers star Fred Warner.

Linebackers:

1. Fred Warner, San Francisco 49ers: 94 overall
2. Lavonte David, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 93 overall
3. Bobby Wagner, Seattle Seahawks: 92 overall
4. Demario Davis, New Orleans Saints: 91 overall
5. Eric Kendricks, Minnesota Vikings: 90 overall
6. Darius Leonard, Indianapolis Colts: 89 overall
7. Roquan Smith, Chicago Bears: 88 overall
8. Dont’a Hightower, New England Patriots: 87 overall
9. Myles Jack, Jacksonville Jaguars: 86 overall
10. Deion Jones, Atlanta Falcons: 86 overall

This article will be updated as more ratings are released. For the Madden 22 player ratings database, click here.

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