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New England Patriots

New England Patriots

Dec 24, 2022; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots linebacker Matthew Judon (9) reacts to his forced turnover during the second half against the Cincinnati Bengals at Gillette Stadium. Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports

In the latest sign that football is right around the corner, EA Sports has spent this week revealing the full overall ratings for players around the league in the latest edition of the Madden football series, Madden 24. That, of course, includes the Patriots.

Some people get annoyed by Madden ratings, simply responding with “who cares what a video game thinks?” But for fans whose main sports media consumption is made up of hyper-local outlets (not that there’s anything wrong with that), it can be a good chance to see what the national or league-wide view is of the local team, both on a player-by-player level and overall.

Right away, it stands out that no Patriots player ended up with an elite (90+) overall grade. That seems to line up with the projections that the Patriots will be on the outside looking in at the playoff picture this year.


READ MORE:

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— How the Patriots missed out on DeAndre Hopkins
Mac Jones throwing the deep ball


Last year, the Patriots graded out as the 20th-best overall team in the NFL on Madden heading into the season. That proved to be a slight underestimation but not totally inaccurate, as they ended the season tied for 18th in terms of winning percentage.

So how do the Patriots grade out this year? Which players did Madden get right, and which did they get wrong? And who are really the top players on the team? Let’s take a look at this year’s ratings position-by-position.

Note: Not every player appears in the initial version of Madden, with rosters capped at 75 players. UDFAs and other late free agents are often not included at launch, with those that make the team added in a later roster update.

  • Quarterbacks

    Nov 20, 2022; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones (10) and quarterback Bailey Zappe (4) walk onto the field before a game against the New York Jets at Gillette Stadium. Credit: Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports

    Nov 20, 2022; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones (10) and quarterback Bailey Zappe (4) walk onto the field before a game against the New York Jets at Gillette Stadium. Credit: Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports

    Mac Jones: 74
    Bailey Zappe: 63
    Malik Cunningham: 60
    Trace McSorley: 56

    Jones is tied with first-overall pick Bryce Young for the 23rd-best QB in the game. He’s one point behind Daniel Jones and Matthew Stafford, and one ahead of Brock Purdy, C.J. Stroud, & Kenny Pickett. Still, the Madden developers don’t seem to see much of a competition coming between him and Zappe.

  • Running backs

    Dec 12, 2022; Glendale, Arizona, USA; New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson (38) against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

    New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson (Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports)

    Rhamondre Stevenson: 80
    Ty Montgomery: 74
    Pierre Strong: 69
    J.J. Taylor: 68
    Kevin Harris: 62

    For the second year in a row, Madden is not high on Stevenson (he began last year as a 73 and finished as a 78). They have him out side the top 20 running backs in the game, rated the same as Devin Singletary, Elijah Mitchel, and Isaiah Pacheco, and one spot ahead of former Patriot Damien Harris.

  • Wide receivers

    GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 02: Kendrick Bourne #84 of the New England Patriots and DeVante Parker #1 of the New England Patriots celebrate after Parker scored a touchdown during the third quarter against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on October 02, 2022 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)

    Kendrick Bourne and DeVante Parker of the New England Patriots celebrate after Parker scored a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on Oct. 2, 2022 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)

    JuJu Smith-Schuster: 82
    DeVante Parker: 80
    Kendrick Bourne: 78
    Tyquan Thornton: 70
    Demario Douglas: 67
    Kayson Boutte: 66
    Tre Nixon: 66
    Matthew Slater: 66*

    This feels about right for the Patriots’ wide receiver group. Smith-Schuster, Parker, and Bourne are all proven NFL contributors, but not true top-of-the-depth-chart players at the position. Thornton has upside but is a relative unknown heading into his second NFL season, but he is tied as the sixth-fastest wide receiver in the game with a 96 speed. Slater is still included here, since Madden doesn’t recognize specialists beyond kickers and punters.

    For what it’s worth, DeAndre Hopkins is a 93 overall and the seventh-ranked receiver in the game.

    Not included: Ed Lee, Raleigh Webb

  • Tight ends

    FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - JANUARY 01: Hunter Henry #85 of the New England Patriots catches a pass against Jevon Holland #8 of the Miami Dolphins during the second quarter at Gillette Stadium on January 01, 2023 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Winslow Townson/Getty Images)

    FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – JANUARY 01: Hunter Henry #85 of the New England Patriots catches a pass against Jevon Holland #8 of the Miami Dolphins during the second quarter at Gillette Stadium on January 01, 2023 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Winslow Townson/Getty Images)

    Hunter Henry: 81
    Mike Gesicki: 81
    Anthony Firkser: 67
    Joe Cardona: 26

    Madden sees the Patriots’ new tight end duo as an even split. Yet both are ranked outside of the top 20 at the position league-wide. Perhaps a bit of an underrated, especially for Henry.

    As for Joe Cardona, Madden still doesn’t have ‘long snapper’ as its own position and includes them with the tight ends. No word on if that is changing any time soon.

    Not included: Johnny Lumpkin, Matt Sokol, Scotty Washington

  • Offensive line

    FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - OCTOBER 09: Trent Brown #77 of the New England Patriots blocks Aidan Hutchinson #97 of the Detroit Lions during the first half at Gillette Stadium on October 09, 2022 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Nick Grace/Getty Images)

    FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – OCTOBER 09: Trent Brown #77 of the New England Patriots blocks Aidan Hutchinson #97 of the Detroit Lions during the first half at Gillette Stadium on October 09, 2022 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Nick Grace/Getty Images)

    Mike Onwenu: 85
    David Andrews: 83
    Trent Brown: 83
    Cole Strange: 76
    Riley Reiff: 72
    Sidy Sow: 68
    Atonio Mafi: 67
    Jake Andrews: 66
    Chasen Hines: 64
    Andrew Stueber: 63
    Calvin Anderson: 63
    Conor McDermott: 60
    James Ferentz: 59

    Onwenu got a solid bump from his Madden 23 rating, a year after he was arguably the Patriots’ best offensive player. Strange improved as well – he had a 70 rating last year.

    As for the tackles, Madden does a good job showing the lack of depth behind Trent Brown. Anderson is probably a bit underrated at a 63, but the general point comes through.

    Not included: Kody Russey, Bill Murray

  • Defensive linemen

    Deatrich Wise Jr. celebrates a 2nd quarter sack with Davon Godchaux. Patriots home opener against the Baltimore Ravens on Sept 25, 2022. [USA Today/The Providence Journal/Kris Craig]

    Deatrich Wise Jr. celebrates a 2nd quarter sack with Davon Godchaux. Patriots home opener against the Baltimore Ravens on Sept 25, 2022. [USA Today/The Providence Journal/Kris Craig]

    Deatrich Wise: 81
    Lawrence Guy: 76
    Christian Barmore: 75
    Davon Godchaux: 75
    Keion White: 69
    Carl Davis: 67
    Sam Roberts: 63
    Daniel Ekuale: 62

    This feels like a bit of a miss by Madden. Wise gets a nice ratings boost after a strong season in 2022, but the rest feels all out of order. While Barmore was hurt for a good portion of last season, he did make an impact more often than not when he was on the field. Meanwhile, Guy’s overall improved from last year even after a down season.

    White got a solid rating for a rookie second-round pick. His strength rating (88) is just outside of the ‘elite’ category (90+).

    Not included: Justus Tavai, Jeremiah Pharms Jr.

  • Linebackers

    FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - NOVEMBER 06: Matthew Judon #9 and Ja'Whaun Bentley #8 of the New England Patriots celebrate in the first quarter of a game against the Indianapolis Colts at Gillette Stadium on November 06, 2022 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Getty Images)

    FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – NOVEMBER 06: Matthew Judon #9 and Ja’Whaun Bentley #8 of the New England Patriots celebrate in the first quarter of a game against the Indianapolis Colts at Gillette Stadium on November 06, 2022 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Getty Images)

    Matthew Judon: 89
    Ja’Whaun Bentley: 84
    Josh Uche: 81
    Jahlani Tavai: 77
    Marte Mapu: 70
    Mack Wilson: 69
    Raekwon McMillan: 69
    Anfernee Jennings: 68
    Chris Board: 66
    Ronnie Perkins: 64
    Terez Hall: 63
    DaMarcus Mitchell: 62

    Judon is the highest-rated player on the Patriots, but still comes short of an elite grade at 89. Yet that is a two-point improvement from where he was at last year.

    It doesn’t seem that Madden is buying the hype on Uche from late last year when he had 11.5 sacks over this final 10 games. His 81 rating is in line with a rotational player.

    Not included: Olakunle Fatukasi, Jourdan Heilig, Calvin Munson

  • Cornerbacks

    New England Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez at 2023 minicamp in Foxboro. (Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports)

    New England Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez at 2023 minicamp in Foxboro. (Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports)

    Jonathan Jones: 83
    Christian Gonzalez: 77
    Marcus Jones: 75
    Jack Jones: 74
    Jalen Mills: 74
    Myles Bryant: 71
    Ameer Speed: 65
    Shaun Wade: 65
    Isaiah Bolden: 64

    At a 77 overall, Gonzalez is one of the highest-rated rookies in the game. He also got elite ratings for most of his physical attributes such as speed, athleticism, and jumping.

    While their overall ratings aren’t as high, the Patriots’ other two rookie corners got a nod from the Madden team as well. Both have a speed rating of 95, which places them in the top 10 at the position.

    Not included: Rodney Randle, Quandre Mosley

  • Safeties

    Jan 1, 2023; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots safety Kyle Dugger (23) runs for a touchdown after intercepting the ball during the second half of agame against the Miami Dolphins at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports

    New England Patriots safety Kyle Dugger (Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports)

    Kyle Dugger: 86
    Jabrill Peppers: 83
    Adrian Phillips: 81
    Cody Davis: 68
    Joshuah Bledsoe: 65
    Brad Hawkins: 63
    Brenden Schooler: 62

    Dugger is rated as the sixth-best strong safety in the game, which feels about right heading into the season. His rating should also grow as the season goes on – can he get into the 90 range? Madden also seems to be in line with Bill Belichick’s (and my) optimism for Peppers in his second year in New England.

  • Special teams

    Punters Corliss Waitman (15) and Bryce Baringer (59) of the New England Patriots during 2023 minicamp in Foxboro. (Matt Dolloff/98.5 The Sports Hub)

    Punters Corliss Waitman (15) and Bryce Baringer (59) of the New England Patriots during 2023 minicamp in Foxboro. (Matt Dolloff/98.5 The Sports Hub)

    Nick Folk: 77
    Chad Ryland: 72
    Bryce Baringer: 72
    Corliss Waitman: 69

    Even with his job on the line in training camp, Folk is rated as the 13th-best kicker in Madden. Ryland is the second-best rookie kicker in the game behind Jake Moody, and Baringer is the best rookie punter.

  • Best individual traits

    FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - OCTOBER 09: The New England Patriots run onto the field before the game against the Detroit Lions at Gillette Stadium on October 09, 2022 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Getty Images)

    FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – OCTOBER 09: The New England Patriots run onto the field before the game against the Detroit Lions at Gillette Stadium on October 09, 2022 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Getty Images)

    Speed: Tyquan Thornton, 96
    Acceleration: Marcus Jones, 95
    Agility: Christian Gonzalez, Marcus Jones, Kendrick Bourne, 92
    Strength: Mike Onwenu, Trent Brown, 91
    Jump: Gonzalez, DeVante Parker, 95
    Toughness: David Andrews, 97

  • Alex Barth is a writer and digital producer for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Thoughts? Comments? Questions? Looking for a podcast guest? Let him know on Twitter @RealAlexBarth or via email at abarth@985TheSportsHub.com.

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