The latest edition of Madden, Electronic Arts' annual cash cow, releases on August 25. During a boring NFL offseason with limited live sporting events, Madden 21 received some extra attention this year. The game primarily generated waves for its always controversial player ratings.
Between rookies always starting with low rankings to some superstars feeling disrespected, Madden always generates a conversation. This year is no different. If anything, the buzz around the game's ratings is greater than ever. However, fans can see that some players received overly favorable ratings this year.
While most players usually get upset over being ranked too low, today we'll examine overrated players from the newest edition of Madden 21.
10. Greg Olsen, TE
At 86 overall, Olsen is the lowest rated player to appear in this article. Under ordinary circumstances, I wouldn't have a problem with this rating. Olsen entered Madden 20 with an 89 overall rating and declined to an 88 by the end of the season. The drop from 88 to 86 as he enters his age 35 season seems justified and on the correct course.
The main issue with Olsen's rating is that it makes him the eighth-highest rated tight end along with Mark Andrews. Over the past three seasons, Olsen played in 30 games and amassed 96 receptions for 1,079 yards and seven touchdowns. Darren Waller, an 85 overall, produced 90 receptions for 1,145 yards and three touchdowns last year alone. Andrews also had a good year, catching 64 passes for 852 yards and ten touchdowns.
While Olsen didn't have a bad season last year, he hasn't performed at a top-ten tight end level since 2016. It's about time his Madden rating reflects that.
9. Stefon Diggs, WR
With his 92 overall rating, Diggs holds the seventh-highest ranked receiver spot in Madden 21 along with Mike Evans. Diggs did have an efficient 2019 season. On only 94 targets, he produced 63 receptions for 1,130 yards and six touchdowns. That's 17.9 yards per reception, which ranked fourth in the entire league.
However, Diggs has yet to make an All-Pro team or earn a Pro Bowl selection. Somehow, he ended up above Keenan Allen (91) and tied with Evan (92), who have both flirted with All-Pro teams in the past. Evans even earned a Second-Team All-Pro nod from Pro Football Focus (PFF) this year. Allen earned Second-Team All-Pro honors from PFF in 2017 and 2018.
Diggs could become an elite receiver now that he's the top option in Buffalo, but it's early to have him ranked above perennial All-Pro candidates.
8. Fletcher Cox, DT
Cox is one of the best defensive tackles in the NFL. At worst, he's a top-five player at his position. At best, he's in the top three. Madden 21 has Cox as the highest-rated defensive tackle in the game with a 96 overall rating. The game decided to list Aaron Donald (99) and Cameron Heyward (90) as defensive ends, which is a bold decision to begin with because Heyward considers himself a defensive tackle.
Cox excels as a pass rusher and against the run, usually. However, he got off to a slow start last season and never fully recovered. Cox finished the year with 40 tackles, ten quarterback hits, and only 3.5 sacks. However, his Madden rating remained the same from last year's launch ratings.
With Chris Jones (92) and DeForest Buckner (87) trailing far behind, Cox should open the season with a significantly lower grade than his current rating.
7. Tyron Smith, LT
With a 91 overall rating, Smith ties for the 11th-highest-rated spot for an offensive lineman in Madden 21. He's also tied for the fifth-highest ranked left tackle spot. While Smith is still a reliable starter, he's no longer an elite player.
Yes, Smith made his seventh Pro Bowl this past season. At this point, we should all recognize that the Pro Bowl is a popularity contest. Being a member of the Dallas Cowboys and a well-known name in the NFL propels Smith to the Pro Bowl annually. These circumstances make some fans believe he's still a dominating player.
In reality, Smith hasn't made an Associated Press All-Pro team since 2016. According to PFF, the former ninth overall pick hasn't posted an overall grade above 90 since 2015. Smith dropped from a 94 overall to a 91 in Madden 20.
6. Evan Engram, TE
The New York Giants still hope Engram can reach a Pro Bowl level. However, the team's patience is probably running thin with the former 23rd overall pick.
Engram received an 88 overall rating this year, which ranks sixth among all tight ends. It's the same rating Engram finished Madden 20 with after opening the game with an 84 overall.
My problem with Engram's rating is his limited playing time and low volume of production. The Mississippi product only appeared in 19 games over the past two seasons and hasn't played at least 50% of New York's offensive snaps since his rookie season.
Engram made 44 receptions for 467 yards and three touchdowns last year. Yet, he still ranks above Andrews and Waller.
5. Jaire Alexander, CB
When Madden 20 launched, Alexander had an 83 overall rating. By the season's conclusion, he was up to an 89. That ranking inched up to a 90 overall in Madden 21. That tied Alexander for the fourth-highest rating amongst cornerbacks.
If Madden remains determined to access players analytically, perhaps they should take a page out of PFF's book. According to PFF's Solomon Wilcots, Alexander was only the 11th-highest ranked cornerback through Week 17 last season.
While he is a rising star, Alexander is still unproven as a top-five cornerback in the NFL.
4. Amari Cooper, WR
Cooper is the only wide receiver in Madden 21 with a 93 overall rating. He sits above Allen (91), Odell Beckham (91), Diggs (92), Evans (92), and Chris Godwin (88). While he did catch 79 passes for 1,189 yards and eight touchdowns this past season, Cooper shouldn't rank above several of the previously mentioned receivers.
Allen, Evans, and Godwin all outplayed Cooper in 2019. I'm not a huge fan of Beckham right now, considering he hasn't produced a top-ten season since 2016, but he possesses more potential than Cooper.
Cooper deserves praise for thriving alongside Dak Prescott and the Cowboys. However, he didn't produce consistently against high competition. Cooper finished four games last season with fewer than 30 receiving yards. He also went for under 50 yards in seven weeks. In comparison, Allen, Evans, and Godwin only had three combined weeks with fewer than 30 receiving yards.
3. Devin McCourty, FS
With his 92 overall rating, McCourty is the third-highest rated safety in Madden 21, tied with New York's Jamal Adams. Tyrann Mathieu (93) and Harrison Smith (95) are the only higher-rated safeties. Meanwhile, Eddie Jackson and Derwin James share an 89 rating, and Justin Simmons sits at 90 overall.
Some fans might argue Smith should appear on this list instead of McCourty. However, Smith is one of the most intelligent safeties in the NFL. He's tremendous at disguising his actions and possesses a level of versatility McCourty can't match.
McCourty hasn't made a Pro Bowl or an All-Pro team since 2016. He did intercept five passes in 2019, but they all came in the first seven weeks of the season.
McCourty opened Madden 20 with an 89 overall rating before battling his way up to a 92. Perhaps that means he deserves the rating, but he's ranked too high compared to the league's other top safeties.
2. J.J. Watt, DE
After only playing in eight total games between 2016 and 2017, Watt stormed back onto the scene in 2018. He played all 16 games, led the NFL in forced fumbles, and earned his fifth First-Team All-Pro selection. Unfortunately, Watt couldn't carry his good health into 2019.
Watt started eight games for the Houston Texans this past season before suffering a torn pectoral muscle. Initially, the team believed the injury was season-ending. However, Watt battled back for the team's playoff run and contributed a sack in a Wild Card Round victory.
Only Watt and Donald won multiple Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) awards during the 2010s. At his peak, Watt was one of the best players in NFL history. Only he and Lawrence Taylor have three DPOY awards.
However, Madden can't use Watt's history to justify his 98 overall rating this year. He was only a 97 overall in Madden 20. So, the jump to 98 overall seems highly suspect.
1. Rob Gronkowski, TE
Fans can agree that Gronkowski taking a year off from football and returning as a 95 overall is ridiculous. Gronkowski was a member of the 99 club when Madden 19 released, but that was two years ago. Even as the most physically dominant tight end of all-time, he should suffer more than a four-point hit for sitting out an entire season.
The last time we saw Gronk, he wasn't his usual dominant self either. Injuries began taking a toll on the former second-round pick as early as 2012. He missed more than half of the 2013 season and only played eight games in 2016. By 2019, Gronkowski looked worn down. He appeared in 13 games, making 47 catches for 682 yards and three touchdowns. Gronkowski's 52.5 receiving yards per game were his lowest mark since his rookie season.
Gronkowski returns to Madden this year as the third-highest rated tight end, trailing Travis Kelce (97) and George Kittle (98). However, cases could be made for Andrews (86), Zach Ertz (90), and Waller (85) all outranking Gronk.
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