Let's be honest: nothing destroys a peaceful afternoon faster than checking the new Madden ratings and seeing your team’s star pass rusher stuck with an 84 overall. It feels personal. Every year, EA Sports drops the numbers, and every year, the internet absolutely loses its mind. Madden 24 player ratings are no different. They aren't just digits on a screen; they are the definitive, albeit controversial, stamp of approval on a player's real-world "elite" status.
The 99 Club: The Gods of the Gridiron
Getting into the 99 Club is basically the NFL equivalent of getting a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, but with more sweat and fewer tourists. For the launch of Madden 24, EA kept the circle tight. Only five players made the cut.
Patrick Mahomes is back at the top. Obviously. After a season where he basically played on one leg to win a Super Bowl, giving him anything less than a 99 would have caused a literal riot in Kansas City. His teammate Travis Kelce joined him, which makes the Chiefs the only team with two maxed-out players.
Then you’ve got Justin Jefferson. He’s the only wide receiver to hit the ceiling this year. If you watched him pull down that insane catch against the Bills, you know why his "Spectacular Catch" rating is a perfect 99. Zack Martin also made history as the first guard to hit 99 since Larry Allen back in the early 2000s. Finally, there's Aaron Donald. This was his seventh time hitting 99, breaking a record previously held by Peyton Manning.
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- Patrick Mahomes (QB, Chiefs): 99 OVR
- Justin Jefferson (WR, Vikings): 99 OVR
- Travis Kelce (TE, Chiefs): 99 OVR
- Zack Martin (RG, Cowboys): 99 OVR
- Aaron Donald (RE, Rams): 99 OVR
Speed Kills: Who Actually Wins the Race?
If you play Madden, you know that Overall (OVR) is cool, but Speed (SPD) is king. You can have a 92-rated linebacker, but if he’s got 82 speed, he’s getting burned by a 70-rated rookie receiver every single time. It's just the way the engine works.
Tyreek Hill remains the fastest man in the digital world with a 99 speed rating. No surprise there. But the real "glitch" players are the ones like Jameson Williams or Jaylen Waddle, who sit at 98 speed. These guys are the "budget beasts" of Ultimate Team because they can outrun almost any secondary in the game regardless of their total score.
Interestingly, the rookie class brought some serious heat this year. De’Von Achane from the Dolphins came out of the gate with 95 speed. In the right hands, that’s a nightmare for defensive coordinators. On the defensive side, Tariq Woolen is the standout with a 98 speed at cornerback. If you're throwing deep against him, you’re basically asking for an interception.
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The Disrespect: Who Got the Short End?
This is where things get salty. The "Ratings Adjusters" (yes, that’s a real job title) use a mix of PFF grades, Next Gen Stats, and—let’s be real—a bit of "vibe checking" to set these numbers.
Take Trevor Lawrence. He dragged the Jaguars to a massive playoff comeback and looked like a top-tier franchise guy, yet he started the game as an 82. That’s lower than Kirk Cousins (84) and Tua Tagovailoa (83). Then you have the Daniel Jones situation. Love him or hate him, the guy had a career year and carries the Giants' offense, but he was slapped with a 75.
Centers always seem to get the worst deal. Jason Kelce is arguably the most athletic center to ever play the game, a literal legend in Philadelphia. His rating? A 92. While that’s the highest for the position, the community largely feels like the formula EA uses for offensive linemen is fundamentally broken. If a guy is the undisputed best at his job, shouldn't he be closer to that 99 mark?
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How to Actually Use These Ratings to Win
Stop looking at the big number on the front of the card. If you want to actually win games, you need to dive into the sub-stats.
- Look for "Release" on WRs: A high OVR receiver with low release will get jammed at the line and ruin your timing.
- Check "Change of Direction" (COD): This is the secret sauce for Madden 24. A player with 90 speed but low COD will feel like he’s running in mud when you try to cut.
- Prioritize "Pass Block Finesse": If your tackle has high "Pass Block Power" but low "Finesse," a speed rusher will swim right past him before you can even finish your dropback.
If you’re managing a Franchise mode, keep an eye on the weekly roster updates. These ratings aren't static. If a random third-stringer has a breakout three-touchdown game, his stats will jump by the following Thursday.
The Verdict on Madden 24 Player Ratings
Ultimately, these ratings are a snapshot. They represent what the "experts" thought of these players after the previous season wrapped up. Some players, like Aaron Donald, get the "legacy" treatment where their rating stays high even if their stats dip. Others have to fight for every single point of OVR.
To get the most out of your roster, you should ignore the names and look at the archetypes. A "Deep Threat" receiver with 97 speed is almost always more valuable than a "Possession" receiver with a 94 OVR but only 88 speed. That's just the meta of the game.
Next Steps for Your Roster:
Open your Depth Chart and sort by Speed and Acceleration rather than Overall. You’ll likely find a few players buried on your bench who are actually better suited for your playstyle. Once you identify these "hidden gems," swap them into your starting lineup for a few games to see how they handle the competition. If you’re playing Ultimate Team, look for cards with high Hit Power for your safeties—it’s the most reliable way to force fumbles in the current patch.