You know the season is nearing when the Madden ratings drop.
The "Madden NFL 20" ratings were released this afternoon, which of course caused all kinds of commotion from players and fans debating what EA Sports got right and wrong.
Here are the top takeaways from this year's Ravens ratings:
- Earl Thomas III is the Ravens' highest-rated player (95 overall) and the highest-rated safety in the game. The Vikings' Harrison Smith (94) is second-highest. EA Sports showed its confidence in Thomas coming back from his season-ending broken leg just fine.
- Fellow safety Tony Jefferson (84) is the 16th-highest rated safety overall and ninth-best strong safety. He's not too happy about that.
- Rooke wide receiver Marquise "Hollywood" Brown is tied as second-fastest player in the game with a 97 speed rating. Only Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill (99) is faster and Brown is tied with Bengals wide receiver John Ross III.
- The Ravens' second-fastest player is a tie between quarterback Lamar Jackson and cornerback Anthony Averett (94). Wide receivers Miles Boykin and Quincy Adeboyejo, cornerback Marlon Humphrey and running back Tyler Ervin all have 92 speed. Rookie running back Justice Hill comes in at 90.
- Right tackle Orlando Brown Jr. has supplanted fellow offensive lineman James Hurst as the Ravens' slowest player. Brown comes in at 50 with Hurst at 52.
- Jackson is the fastest quarterback in the league by a healthy margin, topping Cardinals rookie first-overall pick Kyler Murray (91). Jackson is also the most elusive quarterback in the game (85), just ahead of the Seahawks' Russell Wilson.
- Despite his speed, Jackson only got a 76-overall rating, which ranks him 24th among quarterbacks. He's below the Jaguars' Nick Foles and Redskins' Alex Smith, tied with the Buccaneers' Jameis Winston and just ahead of the Dolphins' Ryan Fitzpatrick and Bears' Mitchell Trubisky. Jackson does have a higher ranking than every other second-year quarterback other than the Browns' Baker Mayfield (83).
- Jackson received low marks for his throwing accuracy – 83 for short passes, 78 for medium distance passes and 78 for deep accuracy. Jackson's accuracy has been a big topic of discussion in the media and has looked improved this summer.
- Humphrey came in at an 85 overall, which ranks him 19th among NFL cornerbacks. He's just behind the Chargers' Desmond King II, Broncos' Kareem Jackson and Vikings' Xavier Rhodes. Jaguars cornerback Jalen Ramsey (96) is the top cornerback in the game. Humphrey is the Ravens' top-rated corner, beating out Jimmy Smith (84) and Brandon Carr (81).
- Mark Ingram II is tied for the 13th-highest rating among NFL running backs at an 86. He's third-best in the division, trailing the Browns' Kareem Hunt (90) and Bengals' Joe Mixon (88). Gus Edwards received a 75 overall rating.
- Justin Tucker is, not surprisingly, the game's highest-rated kicker at an 87 overall. That's two points ahead of 49ers kicker Robbie Gould.
- With a 92-overall rating, defensive tackle Michael Pierce is the Ravens' second-highest rated player and the third-best defensive tackle in the NFL – just above seven-time Bengals Pro Bowler Geno Atkins. That's high praise, and a reminder about how important it is that Pierce gets into good physical shape.
- Pierce and Brandon Williams are tied for the best strength rating on the team at 96. Williams has an 86 grade overall.
- Even at 34 years old, guard Marshal Yanda comes in as the Ravens' third highest-rated player at 91 overall and third-best guard in the league behind the Cowboys' Zack Martin and Steelers David DeCastro, who are 28 and 29 years old, respectively.
- Ronnie Stanley is the ninth highest-rated left tackle in the game at 85, just behind Steelers left tackle Alejandro Villanueva.
- Not much love for the Ravens' young tight ends. Mark Andrews leads the group with a 79 overall rating, Hayden Hurst comes in at 78 and Nick Boyle at 77.
- Safeties Anthony Levine Sr. (76) and DeShon Elliott (65) did not agree with the ratings. They probably weren't alone, but did speak out on social media.
If players don't take their ratings into their own hands, it falls into these ...
