Nick Bosa, Cameron Heyward and Terry McLaurin Lead Ratings for Former Ohio State Players in Madden NFL 24

San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa has the highest rating among Buckeyes for the second year in a row, coming in with an overall rating of 98, just one below the game’s maximum rating of 99. He’s tied with Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett for the second-highest rating among defensive linemen in the game, trailing only Los Angeles Rams star Aaron Donald, one of five players in Madden 24 to receive a 99.

Pittsburgh Steelers defensive lineman Cameron Heyward is Ohio State’s second-highest-rated player in Madden 24 with a 93 overall rating for the second year in a row. Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin has the third-highest rating among Buckeyes with a 92. San Diego Chargers outside linebacker Joey Bosa has the fourth-highest rating among Buckeyes with a 91, while New Orleans Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore has the fifth-best rating among Buckeyes with a 90.

Second-year NFL wide receivers Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson both have ratings of 84 in Madden 24, eight points higher than the initial ratings they received as rookies a year ago. In all, eight of Ohio State’s 11 highest-rated players in this year’s game are either defensive linemen or wide receivers, with Chase Young receiving an 85 rating and Michael Thomas receiving an 84 rating even though they’ve both battled injuries in recent years.

Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields is rated as a 76 in this year’s game, two points better than last year. He has the second-highest speed rating among quarterbacks (93), trailing only Baltimore Ravens dual-threat Lamar Jackson (96), after leading all NFL quarterbacks with 1,143 rushing yards in 2022.

C.J. Stroud debuts with a 73 rating entering his first season with the Houston Texans. Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba received the highest rating among Ohio State’s rookies with a 78 while Arizona Cardinals offensive tackle Paris Johnson Jr. came in just one point behind him with a 77.

The initial ratings include most but not all Buckeyes who are competing to make rosters this summer, as six Ohio State players currently on NFL rosters were excluded from the initial Madden rosters: New Orleans Saints defensive tackle Jerron Cage, Cleveland Browns safeties Ronnie Hickman and Tanner McCalister, Carolina Panthers defensive tackle Antwuan Jackson, Carolina Panthers wide receiver C.J. Saunders and Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Taron Vincent.

Additionally, the initial Madden ratings do not include any players who have not yet signed with NFL teams this offseason. As a result, Ezekiel Elliott does not currently have a rating for Madden 24, nor do Eli Apple or Nick Vannett, who have remained unsigned since becoming free agents in March. Billy Price is also not included in the ratings after he was released by the New Orleans Saints with a non-football injury designation last week.

Rashod Berry is included on the Indianapolis Colts’ roster for Madden 24 with an overall rating of 56, the lowest among position players from Ohio State, despite being released by the team in June after he was suspended indefinitely for betting on NFL games.

With Madden continuing its longtime tradition of rating long snappers as tight ends rather than giving them their own grades, Detroit Lions long snapper Jake McQuaide (33) and Atlanta Falcons long snapper Liam McCullough (32) are the lowest-rated Buckeyes in the game.

The full list of ratings for Ohio State players in Madden 24 with their designated positions in the game: