Rookies are players, too.
With "Madden 21" ratings hitting the airwaves this week, rookies are at the forefront, with a few surprising choices for ratings among the quarterback and wide receiver groups already.
While former LSU Tiger and current Bengal wunderkind Joe Burrow unsurprisingly leads the group, Utah State's Jordan Love beats out Chargers QB Justin Herbert by a single point. No. 5 overall pick Tua Tagovailoa will enter the season comfortably in the No. 2 spot among rookie QBs with a 73 overall ranking.
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Things get interesting in the wide receiver bracket, with a loaded class of receivers entering their first year in the league in 2020. In total, 15 of the rookie receivers have an overall rating of 70 or higher, and at the top is Henry Ruggs III, the speedy Alabama wideout, with a 76 overall rating. Underneath Ruggs is Cowboys new No. 88 CeeDee Lamb with a 75 rating, and he's matched by Ruggs' former teammate and now division rival Jerry Jeudy, who also tops out at 75.
Here are the complete rookie ratings for "Madden 21," set to release later in the summer:
Madden 21 rookie quarterback ratings
All four quarterbacks taken in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft have a rating of 70 or higher, with LSU product Joe Burrow leading the pack.
| Player | Position | Team | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joe Burrow | QB | Bengals | 76 |
| Tua Tagovailoa | QB | Dolphins | 73 |
| Jordan Love | QB | Packers | 71 |
| Justin Herbert | QB | Chargers | 70 |
| Jalen Hurts | QB | Eagles | 68 |
| Jacob Eason | QB | Colts | 63 |
| Jake Fromm | QB | Bills | 62 |
| Cole McDonald | QB | Titans | 60 |
| James Morgan | QB | Jets | 60 |
| Jake Luton | QB | Jaguars | 59 |
| Jordan Ta'Amu | QB | Chiefs | 58 |
| Tyler Huntley | QB | Ravens | 58 |
| Ben Dinucci | QB | Cowboys | 57 |
| Anthony Gordon | QB | Seahawks | 55 |
| John Wolford | QB | Rams | 55 |
| Brian Lewerke | QB | Patriots | 54 |
| Tommy Stevens | QB | Saints | 54 |
| Jake Browning | QB | Vikings | 53 |
| Nate Stanley | QB | Vikings | 53 |
| Bryce Perkins | QB | Rams | 53 |
Madden 21 rookie wide receiver ratings
In a bit of a surprise, Henry Ruggs III paces the group of wide receivers this year, with Cowboys' CeeDee Lamb and fellow former Crimson Tide wideout Jerry Jeudy rounding out the top three receiving threats.
| Player | Position | Team | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Henry Ruggs III | WR | Raiders | 76 |
| CeeDee Lamb | WR | Cowboys | 75 |
| Jerry Jeudy | WR | Broncos | 75 |
| Justin Jefferson | WR | Vikings | 74 |
| Jalen Reagor | WR | Eagles | 73 |
| Brandon Aiyuk | WR | 49ers | 72 |
| Laviska Shenault Jr. | WR | Jaguars | 72 |
| Devin Duvernay | WR | Ravens | 71 |
| Michael Pittman Jr. | WR | Colts | 71 |
| Tee Higgins | WR | Bengals | 71 |
| Bryan Edwards | WR | Raiders | 70 |
| Chase Claypool | WR | Steelers | 70 |
| Denzel Mims | WR | Jets | 70 |
| KJ Hamler | WR | Broncos | 70 |
| Van Jefferson | WR | Rams | 70 |
| Antonio Gandy-Golden | WR | Washington | 69 |
| Gabriel Davis | WR | Bills | 69 |
| John Hightower | WR | Eagles | 68 |
| Tyler Johnson | WR | Buccaneers | 68 |
| Collin Johnson | WR | Jaguars | 67 |
| Joe Reed | WR | Chargers | 67 |
| Quintez Cephus | WR | Lions | 67 |
| Darnell Mooney | WR | Bears | 66 |
| Donovan Peoples-Jones | WR | Browns | 66 |
| Isaiah Coulter | WR | Texans | 66 |
| James Proche | WR | Ravens | 65 |
| KJ Osborn | WR | Vikings | 65 |
| Quez Watkins | WR | Eagles | 65 |
| Dezmon Patmon | WR | Colts | 64 |
| Isaiah Hodgins | WR | Bills | 64 |
| KJ Hill | WR | Chargers | 64 |
| Freddie Swain | WR | Seahawks | 63 |
| Jauan Jennings | WR | 49ers | 63 |
| Omar Bayless | WR | Panthers | 62 |
| Stephen Sullivan | WR | Seahawks | 60 |
| Tyrie Cleveland | WR | Broncos | 60 |
| Malcolm Perry | WR | Dolphins | 55 |
Madden 21 best rookie TEs
In a weaker TE draft class in 2020, Cole Kmet, the first tight end off the board (second round), paces the group with a 70 overall rating. Kmet is the only rookie with a 70 or higher rating.
| Player | Position | Team | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cole Kmet | TE | Bears | 70 |
| Devin Asiasi | TE | Patriots | 69 |
| Adam Trautman | TE | Saints | 68 |
| Harrison Bryant | TE | Browns | 67 |
| Josiah Degaura | TE | Packers | 67 |
| Albert Okwuegbunam | TE | Broncos | 66 |
| Dalton Keene | TE | Patriots | 66 |
| Brycen Hopkins | TE | Rams | 65 |
| Colby Parkinson | TE | Seahawks | 65 |
| Hunter Bryant | TE | Lions | 64 |
Madden 21 best rookie RBs
J.K. Dobbins is the top-ranked RB in this year's class, earning a 75 overall. Dobbins was the fifth running back off the board in the 2020 NFL Draft.
| Player | Position | Team | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| J.K. Dobbins | RB | Ravens | 75 |
| Clyde Edwards-Helaire | RB | Chiefs | 74 |
| D'Andre Swift | RB | Lions | 74 |
| Cam Akers | RB | Rams | 73 |
| Jonathan Taylor | RB | Colts | 73 |
| AJ Dillon | RB | Packers | 72 |
| Zack Moss | RB | Bills | 70 |
| Antonio Gibson | RB | Washington | 69 |
| Darrynton Evans | RB | Titans | 69 |
| Ke'Shawn Vaughn | RB | Buccaneers | 69 |
| Lynn Bowden Jr. | RB | Raiders | 69 |
| Anthony McFarland | RB | Steelers | 67 |
| JJ Taylor | RB | Patriots | 67 |
| Joshua Kelley | RB | Chargers | 67 |
| Jason Huntley | RB | Lions | 66 |
| La'Mical Perine | RB | Jets | 66 |
| Eno Benjamin | RB | Cardinals | 65 |
| Karan Higdon | RB | Texans | 65 |
| Deejay Dallas | RB | Seahawks | 64 |
| Raymond Calais | RB | Buccaneers | 62 |
Madden 21 best rookie defensive players
As of July 15, only ratings for rookie cornerbacks have been released. CJ Henderson and Jeff Okudah pace the rookie field with impressive 76 overall ratings.
| Player | Position | Team | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| CJ Henderson | CB | Jaguars | 76 |
| Jeff Okudah | CB | Lions | 76 |
| Jaylon Johnson | CB | Bears | 73 |
| Jeff Gladney | CB | Vikings | 71 |
| AJ Terrell | CB | Falcons | 70 |
| Damon Arnette Jr. | CB | Raiders | 70 |
| Noah Igbinoghene | CB | Dolphins | 70 |
| Kristian Fulton | CB | Titans | 69 |
| Trevon Diggs | CB | Cowboys | 69 |
| Amik Robertson | CB | Raiders | 68 |