Richard Sherman was No. 3 in the Madden 21 ratings, and the best at play recognition.
Don’t let Richard Sherman’s age and the typical timeline for cornerback dominance fool you. The 10-year NFL veteran is still one of the NFL’s best players at his position. He was rewarded for his stellar 2020 campaign with a Pro Bowl trip and Second-Team All-Pro nod. Now he’s receiving accolades from a popular football video game.
EA Sports has begun releasing its rankings for ‘Madden NFL 21,’ and Sherman is one of the game’s best corners. He checked in with the third-highest rating behind reigning Defensive Player of the Year Stephon Gilmore, and Rams star Jalen Ramsey.
EA Sports was also cognizant of what makes Sherman such a great player. While his athleticism has started to decline, his always-stellar football IQ has risen to the surface as his best attribute. The game has Sherman with the best possible rating, 99, in play recognition.
This is something Sherman has always excelled at. The former receiver has had a knack for running routes with the opposing pass catcher, often beating them to the spot they intended to go. And it’s rare he gets beat on the same thing twice.
Some teams found success going over the top on Sherman, but even then it was rare. He was targeted only 61 times last year including the postseason, allowing a 55.7 percent completion rate and just one touchdown. Sherman hauled in five interceptions, broke up six passes and allowed a paltry 45.3 passer rating when targeted according to Pro Football Focus. That’s never easy to do, but it’s even more difficult after turning 30 with a pair of Achilles surgeries.
It speaks to the type of player Sherman is that at a point in his career where most cornerbacks begin to fade, he’s still producing at a high level for the NFL’s best pass defense. Aging gracefully is hard at the cornerback position, but Sherman’s experience and high football IQ allow him to continue playing like one of the NFL’s best.
If tape and numbers aren’t enough, now you can ask ‘Madden.’
