Every year when Madden NFL releases its new video games, football fans want to know where their favorite players rank. No one ever agrees on who should rank the highest in the games, but at the end of the day, the teams with the most highly ranked players are usually the ones that give gamers a better chance to win games. That makes the Madden 23 rankings such a debatable topic for fans after its release last week.
This season, there are some shocking rankings for players, including last year's Super Bowl MVP ranking second at his own position, and the oldest quarterback in the NFL ranking higher than any young hotshots playing the game today. When all the players average out, the teams ranking at the top might not be the best in the real world, but they are the best to play with when going head-to-head on Madden 23.
San Francisco 49ers - 84
The San Francisco 49ers almost took a major loss this offseason, and if it had happened, they wouldn't rank nearly as high in Madden 23. Deebo Samuel almost left the team, but he stayed on and the RB/WR hybrid player ranks as the fifth-best on the team at 89.
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However, the players that really make a difference are the ones in the trenches, and what makes Madden one of the great football video games. Trent Williams is one of the maxed out players, with a 99 rating, while two defensive stars rank in at 94 each and tight end George Kittle sits at 97. The rating might be a little misleading for playing the game, though, since Samuel and tight end George Kittle are the only offensive weapons ranked high.
Tennessee Titans - 84
The Tennessee Titans shocked a lot of fans in 2021 when they came out and made the playoffs, despite losing their best player for half of the season. However, in the Madden 23 ratings, the game doesn't penalize Derrick Henry for his injury last season and still gives him a team-high 97, matching his Madden 22 ratings.
The average Madden 23 rating for the Titans is an 84, but this might not be as good as one might think. While wide receiver Robert Woods sits at 86, quarterback Ryan Tannehill is only at 83. The average score is nice, but this is a team that needs to win by running the ball, which isn't always easy in Madden games.
Baltimore Ravens - 85
The Baltimore Ravens don't rank as high as the past few seasons for one good reason. Star quarterback Lamar Jackson has dropped in his Madden ratings and is down to an 87, the sixth best on the team. However, there is still a lot to like about this team.
Jackson's number one receiving target, tight end Mark Andrews, sits at 93. Three more players join him over 90, although one of them is the kicker. Madden 23 players who love playing defense should do well with this team, but Jackson needs to see his score rise to make this a team to beat.
Kansas City Chiefs - 85
The Kansas City Chiefs made it to back-to-back Super Bowl appearances, so their status as an elite NFL team seemed secured. However, two things dropped them in Madden 23. The biggest is that they lost their best receiver Tyreek Hill (97) to the Miami Dolphins.
He wasn't enough to help the Dolphins climb list, but he dropped the Chiefs somewhat. The second problem with the Madden 23 ratings was Patrick Mahomes, one of the highest rated players, dropping to a 95, behind team leader, Travis Kelce at 98.
Cleveland Browns - 86
The Cleveland Browns missed the playoffs in 2021 and have only been to the playoffs one time in the last two decades. They also changed quarterbacks this offseason, and Madden 23 rewarded them for it, even though their new QB ended up suspended for most of the season.
However, the Browns have a lot of weapons other than their quarterback, including a perfect-scoring Myles Garrett at defensive end, starting running back Nick Chubb and starting receiver Amari Cooper at over 90, and a shut-down corner in Denzel Ward at 92. The team won't win many games in the real world, but they have exciting players in Madden 23.
Buffalo Bills - 86
The Buffalo Bills have slowly and solidly built a good NFL football team after a few years of struggling. The Madden 23 ratings rewarded them with a solid 86 score thanks to some star defensive players on their roster.
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Buffalo will almost surely be a playoff team this season, and they have six players ranked at 90 or higher in Madden 23. This includes quarterback Josh Allen at 92 and his top receiver Stefon Diggs at 95, which should allow players to have a lot of fun throwing the ball around.
Arizona Cardinals - 87
The Arizona Cardinals have some big names on their team, and while they have some star power, their 87 rating on Madden 23 might be misleading. Buffalo ranks one point lower but has four more players ranked over 90 than the Cardinals.
However, Arizona has one of the top receivers in the NFL in DeAndre Hopkins at 96 and one of the most exciting quarterbacks in Kyler Murray at 84. While Murray ranks lower, he is a running quarterback and that makes this a team that has a lot of options in gameplay for anyone who choose them.
Los Angeles Rams - 87
The Los Angeles Rams won the Super Bowl last season, but they rank below three other teams in the Madden 23 rankings at the start of the season. It seems puzzling, but they lost one of their starting receivers and a top defensive star in the offseason in Odell Beckham Jr. and Von Miller.
Despite the losses, they still sit at a nice 87 rating. They have the highest-rated defensive linemen in Madden 23 in Aaron Donald, the highest-rated receiver in Cooper Kupp (98), and highest rated cornerback in Jalen Ramsey (98)
Green Bay Packers - 88
As long as the Green Bay Packers have Aaron Rodgers at quarterback, they will rank high in Madden 23. However, what keeps them out of the top spot this year is the loss of starting wide receiver Davante Adams to the Las Vegas Raiders.
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Adams has a perfect 99 this season and the best Packers' receiver is only at a 79. Despite this, Rodgers is still at 96 with his top blocker David Bakhtiari at 94 and a shut-down corner at 94, giving them a well-rounded unit.
Dallas Cowboys - 89
The Dallas Cowboys are always on the cusp of something big, but never seem to get over the hump. However, Madden 23 ratings don't care how many games the team wins in real life, it cares about the talent on the field. Only one team has more talent that the Cowboys this season.
Dallas has the highest rated NFL offensive guard in the game with Zack Martin at 98 and another peak lineman in Tyron Smith at 95. The only other player over 90 is pass rusher DeMarcus Lawrence at 90. However, the Cowboys have 11 players ranked 80 or higher, making this a team with a ton of offensive and defensive weapons to play with.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers - 93
The highest rated team in Madden 23 is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bucs have the highest-rated quarterback in the game with Tom Brady, who just had his best statistical season in a decade, despite not making it to the Super Bowl.
It's not just about Brady either, although he is the top-ranked player on the team. Two defensive stars rank next with Vita Vea at 93 and Lavonte David at 92. Plus, two of Brady's top receivers are high on the list, with Mike Evans at 92 and Chris Godwin at 89, making this a dream team for players who love to throw the ball in Madden 93.
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