EA Sports has been working on the latest version of the “Madden” video game franchise. The developers have been hard at work compiling ratings for every player in the league and for every team ahead of the launch on Aug. 2.
When looking over the Baltimore Ravens’ launch ratings, it feels like the entire team got snubbed. But a few players were bigger snubs than others. Here are the three Ravens players that were undervalued by EA Sports in the “Madden 20” launch ratings.
CB Marlon Humphrey: 85 overall
Humphrey earned an overall grade just slightly higher than both Brandon Carr’s and Jimmy Smith’s. While that might be fare given Humphrey’s more limited experience, it put him pretty far down the list among the rest of the league. Tied for 19th among cornerbacks in the NFL, Humphrey isn’t quite getting his due.
It’s expected Humphrey will be the primary starter on Baltimore’s rather deep and dangerous secondary. After steadily improving over his rookie season and last year, Humphrey is widely considered to be one of the better cornerbacks in the league. However, EA Sports doesn’t seem to be on the bandwagon.
Humphrey ranks just a few points below most of the cornerbacks above him in man coverage and press coverage — two areas he excels at. But perhaps the most notable rating is his 89 injury rating compared to Smith’s 87. Humphrey missed a few games last year with thigh and groin injuries, but that pales in comparison to Smith’s injury history, including a torn Achilles in 2017.
Don’t be shocked to see Humphrey’s rating on the move once preseason and the regular season hit. If he plays like he did last season, he’s deserving of an overall grade in the 90s.
QB Lamar Jackson: 76 overall
Jackson is a freak athlete, and EA Sports made sure to translate that to its ratings. Jackson tops all quarterbacks in speed, agility, acceleration and elusiveness. However, EA doesn’t seem too keen on him as a passer.
Jackson’s 69 awareness rating is one of the worst in the league and below many backup and third-string quarterbacks. There are players “Madden 20” doesn’t even have a photo for yet that hold better awareness ratings than Jackson. While Jackson had a few rookie mistakes last year, he reads the field pretty well overall and he improved his instincts over the season to deserve better than a 69.
Jackson’s 89 throwing power rating is solid, but his short accuracy (83), medium accuracy (78) and deep accuracy (78) are all well below even average quarterbacks. These ratings are deserved after Jackson was wildly off the mark several times last year and in OTAs and minicamp this summer. There’s hope Jackson has improved his accuracy issues after working this offseason on his mechanics, but until it’s shown on the field, EA Sports doesn’t seem to be giving him the benefit of the doubt here.
Jackson showed enough flashes last year to earn a better overall rating in “Madden 20.” But with the NFL still being more familiar with pocket quarterbacks that win with their arms, Jackson isn’t likely to get a fair shake unless he can become more accurate.
RB Gus Edwards: 75 overall
Edwards came up from the practice squad last season to supplant Alex Collins as the starter at running back. Edwards would finish the season with a 5.2 yard-per-carry average, good enough to rank fifth in the NFL. It’s even more impressive to think that Edwards put up that type of production in a run-heavy offense with little in the way of a passing attack to open things up.
Yet, Edwards’ 75 overall rating comes in significantly lower than his counterparts. Of the other nine running backs with the highest average yards per run last season, the lowest-rated is Detroit Lions rusher Kerryon Johnson with an 81 overall grade.
Edwards doesn’t even come close to being the top running back on the Ravens’ roster. Mark Ingram holds an 86 overall grade, while Kenneth Dixon has a 76 overall grade. Rookie Justice Hill isn’t far off from Edwards either, getting a 70 overall grade.
Edwards might go the way of Collins and falter in his second season with the team. But as of right now, there’s little reason Edwards has such a low rating for what we’ve actually seen on the field. And if he does deserve such a low rating, EA Sports should probably boost the ratings of every offensive lineman on the roster by another five to 10 points.
