How good are the Green Bay Packers in EA Sports’ novel “Madden NFL 25” video game?
At first, the Packers’ juvenile and developing offense seems underrated in every respect, while the defense could be formidable thanks to a robust front, two speedy linebackers and a wealth of talent on the defensive end.
Here are the starting grades for every Packers player taking part in the game (note: not all players are taking part in the game):
Quarterback
Jordan Love – 81 total
Michael Pratt – 59 overall
Sean Clifford – 58 overall
Alex McGough — 51 overall (released)
Love’s virtual form isn’t exactly a high-profile prospect yet. He’s the 14th-best quarterback in the game. It’s clear the Packers need Love to stay vigorous in Madden, because the backup situation isn’t great. McGough is listed as a quarterback, and the Packers even moved him to receiver and then released him.
Runners in the back
Josh Jacobs – 89 overall
AJ Dillon – 78 overall
MarShawn Lloyd – 73 overall
Emanuel Wilson – 63 total
Jacobs is the seventh-best running back in the game and is rated one point higher than former Packers running back Aaron Jones (88). Dillon provides solid backup, while Lloyd is the fifth-best rookie running back.
Wide receiver
Romeo Doubs – 79 total
Jayden Reed – 78 overall
Christian Watson – 77 overall
Dontayvion Wicks — 75 overall
Bo Melton – 73 overall
Samori Toure – 67 overall
Malik Heath – 66 overall
Grant DuBose – 64 total
No receivers have a grade above 80 overall? You can bet the grades of at least a few of those receivers will enhance by midseason. Still, the Packers have five receivers with grades of at least 73.
Tight ends
Luke Musgrave – 73 overall
Tucker Kraft – 69 total
Ben Sims – 62 overall
Tyler Davis – 60 overall
Henry Pearson – 59 overall (released)
As with receiver, there is a good chance that Musgrave or Kraft will see a midseason bump in their grades. Musgrave is fourth fastest among tight ends at 89. Pearson, who was waived Tuesday, is no longer on the roster.
Offensive line
Elgton Jenkins – 86 overall
Zach Tom – 80 total
Rasheed Walker – 76 overall
Jordan Morgan – 74 overall
Josh Myers – 72 overall
Royce Newman – 70 overall
Andre Dillard – 69 overall
Sean Rhyan – 69 overall
Jacob Monk – 65 overall
Donovan Jennings – 64 overall
Travis Glover – 64 total
Kadeem Telfort – Overall 61
Luke Tenuta – Overall 61
Caleb Jones – 60 overall
Lecitus Smith – 59 total
Tom’s rating could probably be higher after a solid 2023 season. Expect him and Rasheed Walker to be quality pass protectors in the game. Morgan is listed as the left quarterback.
Defense line
Kenny Clark – 87 overall
Rashan Gary – 85 overall
Preston Smith – 79 overall
Devonte Wyatt — 74 overall
Lukas Van Ness – 74 total
Kingsley Enagbare – 70 overall
TJ Slaton – 70 overall
Karl Brooks – 68 overall
Colby Wooden – 66 overall
Jonathan Ford – 63 total
Brenton Cox Jr. — 62 overall
Arron Mosby – 60 overall
Deep and troubling Packers defensive line. Gary probably should be a bit better overall, but the Packers could finally get huge jumps from players like Van Ness, Wyatt, Slaton and Brooks.
Linebackers
Quay Walker – 79 overall
Edgerrin Cooper – 73 overall
Eric Wilson – 69 overall
Isaiah McDuffie — 69 overall
Ty’Ron Hopper – 69 overall
Kristian Welch – 63 overall
Madden likes Walker, who has 88 speed as a right outside linebacker. Cooper is one of the best starting linebackers and has 89 speed. Those two could fly around and cause a lot of chaos.
Corner defenders
Jaire Alexander – 93 overall
Eric Stokes – 76 overall
Keisean Nixon – 73 overall
Carrington Valentine – 71 overall
Corey Ballentine – 71 overall
Robert Rochell – 69 overall
Kalen King – Overall 65
Alexander is the team’s best player and fourth-best cornerback. In the virtual world, Stokes has the edge for CB2. The Packers have five cornerbacks with grades of 70 or better.
Security
Xavier McKinney — 85 overall
Javon Bullard — 75 overall
Evan Williams – 69 overall
View Clouds – 67 total
Anthony Johnson Jr. — 66 overall
Tyler Coyle – 62 overall
Zayne Anderson – 62 total
Benny Sapp III – 60 total
For some reason McKinney has failed to crack the top ten at safety. He is probably underrated. Bullard is the second highest rated rookie safety.
Diggers
Greg Joseph – 73 overall
Anders Carlson – 69 overall
Joseph, who has missed just two kicks in training camp over nine practices, has a virtual advantage over Carlson, who has a 93 kick power but only a 70 accuracy. Joseph has a 95 kick power and 74 accuracy.
Players
Daniel Whelan – 70 overall
Nobody kicks in a video game, right? Well, Whelan has 91 power and 77 accuracy.
Long snappers
Matt Orzech — 26th overall (as TE)
Madden continues to employ a strange tactic in which long-yardage players are tight ends.
Among those currently out are rookie long snapper Peter Bowden, defensive lineman Spencer Waege, cornerback Gemon Green and edge rusher Keshawn Banks. In fact, none of the team’s undrafted rookie free agents are currently in the game.
