Miami Dolphins RB & Texas A&M alumnus De’Von Achane to surpass elite Heisman Trophy winner

Dolphins RB De’Von Achane showcased elite speed during his rookie season in the NFL and the rest of the nation is starting to take notice.

Miami Dolphins running back De’Von Achane showcased elite speed during his rookie season in the NFL and the rest of the nation is starting to take notice of what Texas A&M fans have known for a while.

In only 11 games last year, Achane accomplished a feat that took an elite Heisman Trophy winner over 11 campaigns to accomplish. With five 40-yard rushes in 2023, he tied the total achieved by longtime New Orleans Saints RB and USC alumnus Reggie Bush during his entire professional career.

Additionally, the Aggies alumnus is already among the top 10 fastest players in the league according to ratings in the upcoming Madden NFL 25 video game. With a speed of 96, Achane is 1-of-3 Dolphins in the upper echelon, alongside wide receivers Tyreek Hill (99) and Jaylen Waddle (97). He has the same rating as three WR: Rashid Shaheed of the Saints, DK Metcalf of the Seattle Seahawks and Christian Watson of the Green Bay Packers.

Miami begins the 2024 season against the Jacksonville Jaguars at noon CT on Sept. 8 at Hard Rock Stadium.

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What College Football 25 can learn from Madden NFL 25’s Superstar mode

Here are the features from Madden NFL 25 that we’d like to see in College Football 25’s Road To Glory mode.

It’s a good time to be a football fan. College Football 25 made a grand return last month, Madden NFL 25 releases worldwide on Friday, August 16th, and we’ll soon be seeing regular-season games across the country on the college and pro level.

If you like career modes in your sports video games, College Football 25 and Madden NFL 25 provide an amazing experience. You can begin a college career in CFB 25’s Road To Glory mode, chase the Heisman Trophy and a national championship, and then export your player for use in Madden NFL 25’s Superstar mode.

We spent some time in Superstar mode ahead of launch, and while CFB 25 and Madden NFL 25 provide two notably different styles of football, there are a few features we’d love to see adopted from the pro to the college side.

1. Being able to call your own plays is a game-changer

Via EA Sports

In Madden NFL 25, the entire playbook is open to you, which gives you far more flexibility and opportunities to succeed depending on your position. The level of freedom you have as a quarterback in Superstar mode is incredible – especially compared to College Football 25’s Road To Glory.

On the college side, you’re a prisoner of your coaches for the majority of your time at the NCAA level. Earning coach trust will increase the amount of times you can audible into some other play, but in general, you run what’s being called by the staff. As a simulation of the college experience, it totally makes sense. College quarterbacks are not entering the huddle, mentally flipping through the entire playbook and playing free jazz down the field.

Here’s the thing though: NFL quarterbacks aren’t doing that either! They’re largely relying on coordinators and making adjustments as necessary. Yet opening the playbook doesn’t harm the experience in Madden NFL 25, it enhances it. This is a video game. Let’s bend the rules a bit and go with what’s fun.

2. In-game quest lines give you something to chase

Via EA Sports

Week-to-week progression in College Football 25 is very good. You’re earning XP to upgrade your player, you’re juggling academics and practice, and hoping to break into the list of Heisman favorites.

What CFB 25 is missing is Madden NFL 25’s quest system. There are dozens of in-game and season-long achievements to chase, from rushing for three touchdowns in a game to becoming your conference’s player of the week. There’s tracking throughout the game letting you know how close you are at all times to completing the next quest. It’s simple, but quests provide some in-game motivation to hit that next threshold, even if the outcome of the game is already decided.

3. Superstar progression is a bit smoother

Via EA Sports

Throughout your journey in Superstar mode, you’ll earn points that you can apply to upgrade various core skills. As a quarterback, you can boost your throw power, accuracy at different levels of the field, and a host of agility-related stats.

In CFB 25, as in earlier entries in the series, stat upgrades are unlocked in separate buckets like “accuracy” and “IQ,” and investing points in those categories will upgrade multiple individual ratings at a time. The difference between these two systems is that your progress happens in chunks in the college game, and more gradually in Madden. Want to be a rushing quarterback in CFB 25 and boost those Quickness ratings? You might have to spend several games farming up the SP to be able to afford the high cost.

It’s a personal preference thing, but I prefer Madden’s progression system.

Steelers stars get the shaft in Madden NFL 25 launch ratings

Here is how the top Steelers rank in EA Sports Madden NFL 25.

EA Sports have trickled in all the launch ratings for Madden NFL 25 over the past week. Madden NFL 25 is set for a release date of August 16 and now we have a good look at how EA ranks the Pittsburgh Steelers in comparison to the rest of the NFL.

Spoiler: It’s not great. Only three Steelers ranked over 90 with EDGE T.J. Watt the highest with a 97.

Here is how the Top 12 Steelers stack up:

OLB T.J. Watt – 97

FS Minkah Fitzpatrick – 93

DE Cameron Heyward – 90

OLB Alex Highsmith – 89

MLB Patrick Queen – 85

WR George Pickens – 83

RB Najee Harris – 83

RB Jaylen Warren – 82

TE Pat Freiermuth – 82

K Chris Boswell – 81

G Isaac Seumalo – 81

CB Joey Porter Jr.  – 81

Not having Watt as one of the rare 99-rated players came as something of a surprise and seeing fellow LB Alex Highsmith just 8 points below him was just as shocking.

The Steelers offense was fairly well represented and seeing Harris and Warren with just one point separating them really highlights just how good the Steelers run game can be.

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Pat Surtain reacts to his Madden rating: ‘I’mma get that 99 soon’

Broncos CB Pat Surtain has a 95 overall rating in Madden 25, making him the third-best CB in the game. He’s aiming to join the 99 Club next.

EA Sports released ratings for Madden NFL 25 earlier this week and Denver Broncos star cornerback Pat Surtain was given an overall rating of 95.

That’s a one-point increase from his rating last year as Surtain remains the third-highest-rated cornerback in the game, only trailing Sauce Gardner (97) and Jalen Ramsey (96).

The Broncos shared a video on their Twitter/X page on Thursday showing PS2’s reaction to his rating in the video game.

“Overall rating: 95. See, that’s a good start,” Surtain says in the video. “That’s a good start, Madden. That’s a good start. I’mma get that 99 soon. In due time, for sure. Trust it. Truss.”

Surtain is Denver’s highest-rated player by a wide margin, with guard Quinn Meinerz (87) left tackle Garett Bolles (85) and wide receiver Courtland Sutton (84) next in line. The team’s only other players above 79 overall are running back Javonte Williams (80) and right tackle Mike McGlinchey (80).

Madden NFL 25 will hit stores on Friday, Aug. 16. The game will be available on PlayStation, Xbox and PC platforms.

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Carlton Davis is not happy with his Madden 25 rating

Lions CB Carlton Davis is not happy with his Madden 25 rating and had some fun letting everyone know it after Friday’s practice

In one of the more entertaining press conferences of the Detroit Lions training camp thus far, cornerback Carlton Davis fired off a few shots about something that made him quite upset.

No, it wasn’t anything that happened on the field on an eventful, scrimmage-like Friday practice. It was his player rating in the Madden 25 video game.

The ratings are getting released publicly, and Davis earned an 83 overall from the developers at EA Sports, who make the annual game. That rating (playfully) set off Davis, who came to Detroit via a trade with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this offseason.

“I hate it,” Davis said after mouthing a profanity with a smile. “I can’t even see what I want to say. I don’t respect the ratings. I think it’s like a lot of hype that go into it. I just think its a lot of BS. I don’t think they stand on all 10 toes as far as like the ratings and the guys who they’re giving them ratings to and the guys who they aren’t giving ratings to. But it is what it is.”

His rant against Madden 25 ended when rookie CB Terrion Arnold hijacked the interview with an unscheduled, well-received and hilarious appearance.

Madden NFL 25 ranks Saints’ Demario Davis the third-best linebacker in football

Madden NFL 25’s initial launch ratings rank New Orleans Saints star Demario Davis as the third-best linebacker in football:

Every year, EA Sports releases a brand-new update for their Madden NFL video game franchise. As the game gets closer to being released, the development team shares the overall ratings of players in the game.

On Friday, they dropped their top ten linebackers, and Saints fans found a familiar face on the list. The 35-year-old ranked as the third-best linebacker in the game.

Davis comes in with a 92 overall rating at launch, two higher than the previous year. He absolutely deserves it with the year he is coming off of. The Arkansas State product had one of his best seasons, tallying 121 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 11 quarterback hits, and 6.5 sacks.

His 92 overall rating will likely be the highest overall player for New Orleans. He joins teammates Tyran Mathieu and Cameron Jordan as top-10 overall players at their respective positions. The game’s worldwide release is set for Aug. 16, with premium preorders opening early access up on Aug. 13.

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WATCH: Commanders’ players guess Madden 25 ratings

Sam Cosmi is impressed with his acceleration.

Almost every day after practice in training camp, the Washington Commanders’ social media team has a camera set up with a game for players as they enter the locker room.

With this week’s player ratings releases for Madden NFL 25, the Commanders’ game of choice on Friday was for the team to guess the Madden ratings of four different players.

The four players happen to be four of the team’s top stars: DT Jonathan Allen, WR Terry McLaurin, LB Bobby Wagner and RG Sam Cosmi.

It was fun for the players as Allen correctly guessed he was Player A.

Check it out:

As you can see, McLaurin thought his speed rating should’ve been a bit higher, citing his 4.35 speed. He has a good point.

Cosmi, with his young baby daughter in his arms, was thrilled to learn the game had given him an 82 for acceleration.

We’ll break down all of the 2025 Madden ratings this weekend.

Launch ratings for every Packers player in Madden NFL 25

Here are the launch ratings for every Packers player in Madden NFL 25.

How good are the Green Bay Packers in the new “Madden NFL 25” video game from EA Sports?

At launch, the young and ascending Packers offense looks underrated across the board virtually, while the defense could be menacing with a strong front, two speedy linebackers and plenty of talent in the secondary.

Here are the launch ratings for every Packers player in the game (note: not all players are in the game):

Quarterbacks

Jordan Love — 81 overall
Michael Pratt — 59 overall
Sean Clifford — 58 overall
Alex McGough — 51 overall (released)

Love’s virtual form isn’t highly respected, yet. He’s the 14th best quarterback in the game. Clearly, the Packers need Love to stay healthy in Madden because the backup situation isn’t good. McGough is listed as a quarterback, even the Packers transitioned him to receiver and then released him.

Running backs

Josh Jacobs — 89 overall
A.J. Dillon — 78 overall
MarShawn Lloyd — 73 overall
Emanuel Wilson — 63 overall

Jacobs is the seventh best running back in the game, and he’s rated one point higher than former Packers running back Aaron Jones (88). Dillon provides a solid backup, while Lloyd is the fifth-best rookie running back.

Wide receivers

Romeo Doubs — 79 overall
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 overall

No receiver over 80 overall? You can bet the ratings of at least a few of these receivers will be going up midseason. Still, the Packers have five receivers with at least a 73 rating.

Tight ends

Luke Musgrave — 73 overall
Tucker Kraft — 69 overall
Ben Sims — 62 overall
Tyler Davis — 60 overall
Henry Pearson — 59 overall (released)

Like receiver, there’s a good chance either Musgrave or Kraft will get a midseason ratings boost. Musgrave is tied for the fourth-fastest tight end at 89 speed. Pearson, who was released on Tuesday, is no longer on the roster.

Offensive line

Elgton Jenkins — 86 overall
Zach Tom — 80 overall
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 overall
Kadeem Telfort — 61 overall
Luke Tenuta — 61 overall
Caleb Jones — 60 overall
Lecitus Smith — 59 overall

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 a left tackle.

Defensive line

Kenny Clark — 87 overall
Rashan Gary — 85 overall
Preston Smith — 79 overall
Devonte Wyatt — 74 overall
Lukas Van Ness — 74 overall
Kingsley Enagbare — 70 overall
TJ Slaton — 70 overall
Karl Brooks — 68 overall
Colby Wooden — 66 overall
Jonathan Ford — 63 overall
Brenton Cox Jr. — 62 overall
Arron Mosby — 60 overall

Deep and disruptive up front for the Packers defense. Gary should probably be a little bit better overall, but the Packers could eventually get big jumps from the likes of 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 at right outside linebacker. Cooper is one of the best rookie linebackers and has 89 speed. Those two could fly around and create plenty of virtual havoc.

Cornerbacks

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 — 65 overall

Alexander is the team’s best player overall and fourth best cornerback overall. In the virtual world, Stokes has the upper hand in the battle to be CB2. The Packers have five corners at 70 overall or better.

Safeties

Xavier McKinney — 85 overall
Javon Bullard — 75 overall
Evan Williams — 69 overall
Kitan Oladapo — 67 overall
Anthony Johnson Jr. — 66 overall
Tyler Coyle — 62 overall
Zayne Anderson — 62 overall
Benny Sapp III — 60 overall

Somehow, McKinney failed to crack the top 10 safeties. He’s probably underrated. Bullard is the second-highest rated rookie safety.

Kickers

Greg Joseph — 73 overall
Anders Carlson — 69 overall

Joseph, who has only missed two kicks in training camp through nine practices, gets the virtual edge over Carlson, who has 93 kick power but only 70 accuracy. Joseph has 95 kick power and 74 accuracy.

Punters

Daniel Whelan — 70 overall

No one punts in a video game, right? Well, Whelan has 91 power and 77 accuracy.

Long snappers

Matt Orzech — 26 overall (as a TE)

Madden still does this weird thing where long snappers are tight ends.

Among those not in the game currently 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 free agent rookies are currently in the game.

Daniel Jones isn’t a top-32 quarterback on EA Sports Madden NFL 25

Despite holding one of the NFL’s 32 starting jobs, former Duke quarterback Daniel Jones isn’t one of the 32 best quarterbacks in Madden 25.

EA Sports dropped its initial Madden NFL 25 quarterback ratings on Friday, and the developers don’t seem to have much faith in former Duke quarterback [autotag]Daniel Jones[/autotag].

According to the release, Jones only earned a 71 overall rating despite holding the starting job with the New York Giants. 33 other quarterbacks ended up with a higher overall rating, including names like Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, and Bryce Young.

Three rookies start their career with a higher overall ranking than Jones. Washington‘s Jayden Daniels and New England‘s Drake Maye begin their NFL careers with a 74 overall while Caleb Williams, the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft for the Chicago Bears, starts as a 76.

Jones and the Giants struggled last season. The former Blue Devil threw for 909 yards, two touchdowns, and six interceptions in six games, averaging less than six yards an attempt before an ACL tear ended his season. However, New York made the playoffs and won a first-round postseason game over Minnesota back in 2022.

Through 60 games over the last five NFL seasons, Jones has thrown for 62 touchdowns and rushed for 13 more. He’s amassed 12,512 passing yards and 1,914 rushing yards.

Packers QB Jordan Love is 81 overall in Madden NFL 25’s launch ratings

Packers QB Jordan Love is rated as the 15th best QB by overall rating in Madden NFL 25’s launch ratings.

It appears the virtual version of Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love still has a few doubters.

In the launch ratings of “Madden NFL 25,” Love is only 81 overall — tied with C.J. Stroud for the 14th best quarterback in the game.

As a passer, Love has 92 throw power, 87 throw under pressure, 89 short accuracy, 84 mid accuracy, 83 deep accuracy, 83 playaction and 76 break sack. As an athlete, Love has 84 speed, 86 acceleration, 77 agility, 84 awareness, 85 jumping, 84 stamina and 89 toughness. He is considered a “Field General QB” as an archetype.

Love is the seventh best player on the Packers virtual roster overall rating.

After a brilliant end to his first season as a starter, including a near-perfect performance in the Packers’ win over the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC playoffs, it’s a little surprising to see Love rated so lowly in the launch of the new Madden.

The virtual Packers need Love — who has a 92 injury rating — to stay healthy. Sean Clifford is a 58 overall, while rookie Michael Pratt is a 59.

Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes is the top quarterback in the game at 99 overall. Former Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is 83 overall.

Top QBs in Madden NFL 25 launch ratings

Patrick Mahomes — 99 overall
Lamar Jackson — 98 overall
Joe Burrow — 93 overall
Josh Allen — 92 overall
Dak Prescott — 90 overall
Tua Tagovailoa — 88 overall
Justin Herbert — 87 overall
Jalen Hurts — 86 overall
Brock Purdy — 85 overall
Kirk Cousins — 84 overall
Aaron Rodgers — 83 overall
Matthew Stafford — 83 overall
Jared Goff — 82 overall
Jordan Love — 81 overall
C.J. Stroud — 81 overall