Every year, football and video game fans everywhere prepare for the release of the latest edition of Madden NFL. The recent installments may not have been as well-received as when the franchise was at its peak but it's still a popular game that always racks up high sales totals.
One thing that those fans look forward to is finding out which players rank among the best in the league. Even the NFL players often discuss these ratings among themselves and sometimes take to Twitter about their feelings. From quarterbacks to defensive players and more, some players stand out as the best according to the Madden NFL 22 ratings.
Christian McCaffrey/Stefon Diggs/Stephon Gilmore/Tom Brady (97)
Technically, more than 10 players are included since four are tied with a 97 overall. The one who jumps out first is certainly Tom Brady of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who led them to a Super Bowl win last season despite being in his 40s. Brady is seen by many as the greatest player of all time.
Buffalo's Stefon Diggs, who formed a powerful duo with Josh Allen last season, is also a 97. Meanwhile, Carolina's Christian McCaffrey also has this score and his is especially impressive since it makes him the highest-rated running back in the game. Rounding out the quartet is Stephon Gilmore, a fantastic cornerback from New England.
Zack Martin (98)
Even with some diehard football fans, offensive linemen are players who are unsung heroes. Their role on a team is incredibly important as they protect the quarterback and running back and without a strong line, your offense is almost sure to struggle. Despite that fact, linemen are typically unknown and not household names.
That's the case for Zack Martin of the Dallas Cowboys but he's one of the best at his job. That's how the four-time All-Pro guard was able to end up with a rating so high in Madden NFL 22. You may not think about his name when pondering the best players in the world but he belongs in the conversation.
Tyreek Hill (98)
There are several wide receivers who managed to snag impressive ratings. Tyreek Hill is one of them and it's because he's such a huge part of the Kansas City Chiefs' offensive attack. He has some of the best hands in all of football, so the rating makes sense.
Hill caught 87 passes in 2020 for a whopping 15 touchdowns, making him a favorite target of Patrick Mahomes. That combination helped take the Chiefs to the Super Bowl for a second straight year and having Hill on your team in Madden NFL 22 will likely produce similar results.
DeAndre Hopkins (98)
Last season saw one of the best plays in the history of the NFL. Kyler Murray was in trouble with the game on the line and launched a hail mary into the endzone to DeAndre Hopkins, who was covered by three members of the Buffalo Bills.
In a stunning display of athleticism, Hopkins leaped over all of them and made the catch to win the game. When you add moves like that with his impressive 115 total receptions last year, it makes it clear why Hopkins is among the best wide receivers on the planet.
Myles Garrett (98)
Although the Cleveland Browns have become one of the NFL's best teams thanks to additions like Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry, some of their best talent was brought in through the draft. Baker Mayfield and Nick Chubb are important but Myles Garrett is the key to everything.
The defensive end is the best at his position and is a force to be reckoned with. Having him on the field each week last season allowed the Browns to become a playoff team. He's had double-digit sack totals in each season besides his rookie year and Garrett will now team with Jadeveon Clowney to form a tremendous defensive combo.
Davante Adams (99)
Whenever a new Madden is on the horizon, a lot of talk goes on about the "99 Club." These are the players who are given the highest possible score in the game (99) and each year, being part of that group is something special. In Madden NFL 22, five players earned that rating.
First up is Davante Adams of the Green Bay Packers. The wide receiver is often the favorite target of Aaron Rodgers, who many consider one of the best quarterbacks in history. Adams had 115 catches last year and led the NFL with 18 receiving touchdowns, cementing his status as a top wideout.
Travis Kelce (99)
The second member of the Kansas City Chiefs offense with a 98 rating or higher is Travis Kelce. He is widely viewed as the best tight end in the game and his numbers certainly back that up. Along with the 99 overall, he is a multi-time Pro Bowler and All-Pro player who won a Super Bowl two years ago.
Kelce also snatched a career-high 105 catches last year and is Patrick Mahomes' go-to target at times. He uses a combination of his soft hands, big frame, and surprising quickness to put him above the rest of the guys at his position.
Jalen Ramsey (99)
On the defensive side of the ball, one of the most important things to have is someone who can shut down the impressive receivers in the league. One of the best to do so is Jalen Ramsey of the Los Angeles Rams, who is arguably the best cornerback in the NFL and certainly the highest-rated.
Sometimes, people look at a cornerback's interception totals to see how good they are but that's not the case with Ramsey. He only has two total picks over the past two seasons but that's likely because he shuts down his receivers so well that quarterbacks don't even through to them that much.
Aaron Donald (99)
Two members of the "99 Club" come from the Los Angeles Rams and both are defensive players. While Jalen Ramsey shuts things down on the deep end, Aaron Donald holds down the fort up front as a defensive end. The "99 Club" is actually nothing new for Donald.
In fact, this is the fifth straight year that Donald has secured a 99 rating and it's because he is the most dominant player on defense in the league. Adding him to your team, whether through some kind of improbable trade, fantasy draft, or just by picking the Rams is a guarantee that you'll have a defensive stalwart.
Patrick Mahomes (99)
Tom Brady might go down as the best quarterback to ever play the game and he did win the Super Bowl last season but the quarterback he bested that night actually has a higher rating. Patrick Mahomes is pretty much the unquestioned top pass thrower in the NFL right now.
In his first full season, Mahomes won the Most Valuable Player award and tossed 50 touchdowns. He followed that up by winning the Super Bowl a year later and shining the year after despite some nagging injuries. Mahomes is likely going to put up incredible numbers and rack up the wins again in both real life and in the video game.