Let’s be real for a second. Playing with the New Orleans Saints in Madden has felt like a bit of a mid-tier grind lately. You’ve got the flashy uniforms and the Superdome atmosphere, but the roster always seems to be stuck in that "good but not great" purgatory. With the release of the newest ratings, fans are naturally losing their minds over who got snubbed and who actually got some love from the EA developers.
Honestly, the Saints Madden 25 ratings tell a story of a team in transition. It’s a mix of aging legends clinging to their elite status and young stars trying to drag the franchise back into the "90 overall" conversation. If you’re looking for a team that can dominate the NFC South in Franchise mode, New Orleans has the bones for it, but there are some massive holes you're going to have to scheme around.
The Heavy Hitters: Who Stays Elite?
Demario Davis is basically Benjamin Button at this point. The man is 36 years old and still outperforming linebackers ten years his junior. In Madden 25, his rating reflects that consistency. He’s consistently hovering in the low 90s (around a 91 to 93 OVR depending on the roster update), making him the heartbeat of the defense. If you’re playing on All-Pro or All-Madden, you basically just click onto #56 and let him erase the middle of the field.
Then there’s Tyrann Mathieu. The Honey Badger might not have the 95+ speed he had in his prime, but his play recognition and zone coverage are still top-tier. His 86 OVR base card in Ultimate Team (and similar in standard rosters) makes him a versatile chess piece. You can’t just leave him on an island against a burner like Tyreek Hill anymore, but in a Cover 3 or a disguised blitz, he’s still a menace.
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The Offensive Spark
On the other side of the ball, Chris Olave is the guy everyone wants to use. He’s the "Home Run" threat. With a rating jumping into the high 80s or low 90s (his Roster Revolution card hit a massive 96 OVR), he is the primary reason the Saints offense is viable in competitive play. His speed and route running are crisp. In the game, he feels significantly faster than his attribute number suggests, mostly because of how he comes out of breaks.
- Tyrann Mathieu: 86 OVR (Core)
- Demario Davis: 91-93 OVR (Top Tier LB)
- Chris Olave: 89-91 OVR (Primary WR)
- Alvin Kamara: 84-87 OVR (Still a receiving threat)
The Derek Carr Dilemma
We have to talk about Derek Carr. Every year, his Madden rating is a point of contention. Is he a top-10 QB? No. Is he a bottom-tier starter? Also no. Madden 25 settles him right in that 79 to 81 OVR range for his base version, though special editions like the Roster Revolution have pushed him as high as 94 OVR.
In the game, Carr is "fine." He has the arm strength to hit the deep outs, but his "Senses Pressure" trait—which EA usually sets to Average—means if the pocket collapses, your accuracy is going to tank. If you’re a Saints fan, you’ve probably spent a lot of time yelling at the screen when his pass sails over Olave’s head. It’s a very "authentic" New Orleans experience.
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Why the Team Rating is a Bit Deceiving
The Saints usually land around an 83 Overall as a team. On paper, that sounds solid. It’s 17th in the league, smack-dab in the middle. But the way those points are distributed is weird. The defense is top-heavy with guys like Cam Jordan (who is seeing a bit of a ratings slide as he gets older) and Marshon Lattimore.
Lattimore is still a lockdown corner in the game. His man coverage is elite, but the depth behind him in the Madden ratings is thin. If he gets tired or goes down with a "bruised ribs" injury in the second quarter, you are suddenly starting a 74 OVR rookie or a journeyman. That’s where the 83 team rating feels more like a 78.
The Trenches: A Tale of Two Sides
The offensive line is a mess in the ratings this year, and honestly, it’s fair. Outside of Erik McCoy, who is a stud at Center (often rated 93-96 OVR in special sets), the tackles have struggled. You’ve got young guys like Taliese Fuaga coming in with rookie ratings that haven't quite blossomed yet.
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- Erik McCoy: The anchor. Don't trade him.
- Carl Granderson: Finally getting some respect with a high 80s rating after his breakout seasons.
- Taysom Hill: The ultimate Madden "cheat code." He’s listed at TE, but his 93 OVR Zero Chill version or his high-80s base makes him a nightmare to defend in the Red Zone.
Strategy: How to Actually Win with the Saints
If you’re taking the Saints into an online match, stop trying to play like the 2011 Drew Brees era. It doesn't work. Carr isn't that guy in this engine. Instead, you need to lean on the "Cheese" factor of Taysom Hill. Put him in at QB in the Wildcat or use him as a lead blocker.
On defense, you have to be aggressive. Use Chase Young (rated around 70-74 in base but higher in TOTW) and Cam Jordan to create quick pressure. The Saints secondary is good enough to hold for three seconds, but not five. If you let the opponent's QB sit back there, they’ll eventually find a hole in the zone.
Final Thoughts on the Roster
The Saints Madden 25 ratings are a reality check. The team isn't the powerhouse it was five years ago, but they aren't a basement dweller either. They are a "Player Skill" team. If you are good at the game, you can win with them because you have elite pieces at linebacker, corner, and wide receiver. But if you rely on the AI to win the game for you, you’re going to get exposed.
Check the weekly roster updates religiously. Players like Rashid Shaheed are prone to huge ratings jumps if they have a big game in real life. One 80-yard touchdown can move his speed or deep threat rating up by two or three points, which is huge for a team that needs a vertical threat.
Practical Steps for Saints Players
- Move Taysom Hill around: Use the "Sub Packages" in the play-call screen to get him at QB or FB.
- Focus on McCoy: In Franchise, build your O-line around him. He's your only "safe" long-term asset upfront.
- Upgrade WR2: After Olave, the ratings drop off. Look for a veteran in free agency or trade for a high-speed rookie to take the pressure off #12.
- User the Linebacker: Don't let the AI control Demario Davis. His attributes are too good to waste; use him to bait interceptions over the middle.