Somehow, 13 other quarterbacks have higher ratings than C.J. Stroud in Madden NFL 25.
Despite his spectacular rookie season in which he led the NFL with 273.9 passing yards per game and led the Houston Texans to an AFC South title, Stroud received an overall rating of only 81 in the new Madden video game, tying him for just 14th among all quarterbacks. He received the same rating as Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love while coming in behind the likes of Jared Goff (82), Kirk Cousins (84) and Brock Purdy (85), to name a few.
Stroud’s low rating drew plenty of critiques on social media.
This is getting out of hand, @EAMaddenNFL lets talk ball and get these ratings right..
— Kurt Benkert (@KurtBenkert) August 2, 2024
CJ Stroud & Jordan Love are 14th and 15th ratings wise out of all of these QBs in Madden.
Both are top 10 in real life. https://t.co/TyGyhSgjzA
Madden 25 having CJ Stroud at an 81 while Kirk Cousins is an 84 makes me question a lot of things
— Zirksee (@Zirksee) August 2, 2024
In less controversial news, Nick Bosa is the highest-rated former Ohio State players in the game for the third year in a row. His overall rating of 96 ranks fourth among all defensive ends behind only Myles Garrett (98), Micah Parsons (98) and Maxx Crosby (97).
Cameron Heyward, Marshon Lattimore and Denzel Ward are all tied for the second-highest rating among Buckeyes with all coming in at 90 overall. Terry McLaurin rounds out the top five for highest Madden ratings among players who finished their college careers at Ohio State with an 89 overall.
Marvin Harrison Jr., meanwhile, is tied with former Notre Dame offensive tackle Joe Alt for the highest-rated rookie in the game as the No. 4 and No. 5 overall picks in the 2024 NFL draft – behind only quarterbacks Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye – each received ratings of 79 overall.
Top 10 Rookies in Madden NFL 25:
— SleeperNFL (@SleeperNFL) August 2, 2024
1. Marvin Harrison Jr.: 79
2. Joe Alt: 79
3. JC Latham: 78
4. Olu Fashanu: 78
5. Brock Bowers: 78
6. Dallas Turner: 78
7. Amarius Mims: 78
8. Malik Nabers: 77
9. Jonathon Brooks: 77
10. Tailese Fuaga: 77 pic.twitter.com/T1geqh1VyJ
Ohio State has produced many elite wide receivers in recent years, which is reflected in the game’s ratings. Six wideouts from Ohio State have ratings of at least 70, also including Chris Olave (86), Garrett Wilson (85), Curtis Samuel (80) and Jaxon Smith-Njigba (80).
In total, 58 former Ohio State players are included on the launch roster for Madden NFL 25, which will be released on August 16. The full list of ratings for former Ohio State players can be found in the table below.
| Pos | Player | Team | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| LE | NICK BOSA | 49ERS | 96 |
| RE | CAMERON HEYWARD | STEELERS | 90 |
| CB | MARSHON LATTIMORE | SAINTS | 90 |
| CB | DENZEL WARD | BROWNS | 90 |
| WR | TERRY MCLAURIN | COMMANDERS | 89 |
| LOLB | JOEY BOSA | CHARGERS | 87 |
| LT | TAYLOR DECKER | LIONS | 86 |
| WR | CHRIS OLAVE | SAINTS | 86 |
| WR | GARRETT WILSON | JETS | 86 |
| RE | CHASE YOUNG | SAINTS | 85 |
| FS | MALIK HOOKER | COWBOYS | 84 |
| MLB | JEROME BAKER | SEAHAWKS | 81 |
| QB | C.J. STROUD | TEXANS | 81 |
| WR | CURTIS SAMUEL | BILLS | 80 |
| WR | JAXON SMITH-NJIGBA | SEAHAWKS | 80 |
| HB | EZEKIEL ELLIOTT | COWBOYS | 79 |
| WR | MARVIN HARRISON JR. | CARDINALS | 79 |
| SS | VONN BELL | BENGALS | 79 |
| HB | J.K. DOBBINS | CHARGERS | 78 |
| SS | JORDAN FULLER | PANTHERS | 78 |
| LE | SAM HUBBARD | BENGALS | 77 |
| LG | JONAH JACKSON | RAMS | 77 |
| LT | PARIS JOHNSON JR. | CARDINALS | 77 |
| ROLB | BARON BROWNING | BRONCOS | 77 |
| WR | NOAH BROWN | TEXANS | 76 |
| DT | DAVON HAMILTON | JAGUARS | 76 |
| RT | DAWAND JONES | BROWNS | 76 |
| LE | DRE’MONT JONES | SEAHAWKS | 76 |
| ROLB | PETE WERNER | SAINTS | 76 |
| QB | JUSTIN FIELDS | STEELERS | 75 |
| WR | PARRIS CAMPBELL | EAGLES | 75 |
| LOLB | JONATHON COOPER | BRONCOS | 75 |
| CB | JEFF OKUDAH | TEXANS | 75 |
| P | CAMERON JOHNSTON | STEELERS | 75 |
| DT | JOHNATHAN HANKINS | SEAHAWKS | 74 |
| LOLB | MALIK HARRISON | RAVENS | 74 |
| LE | TYQUAN LEWIS | COLTS | 74 |
| DT | MIKE HALL JR. | BROWNS | 73 |
| C | JOSH MYERS | PACKERS | 72 |
| RT | THAYER MUNFORD | RAIDERS | 71 |
| FS | RONNIE HICKMAN | BROWNS | 70 |
| CB | SHAUN WADE | PATRIOTS | 70 |
| ROLB | TOMMY EICHENBERG | RAIDERS | 70 |
| MLB | RAEKWON MCMILLAN | PATRIOTS | 69 |
| RT | NICHOLAS PETIT-FRERE | TITANS | 69 |
| LOLB | ZACH HARRISON | FALCONS | 68 |
| LE | JALYN HOLMES | JETS | 68 |
| TE | JEREMY RUCKERT | JETS | 68 |
| HB | TREY SERMON | COLTS | 68 |
| RG | LUKE WYPLER | BROWNS | 67 |
| WR | AUSTIN MACK | FALCONS | 65 |
| TE | CADE STOVER | TEXANS | 65 |
| TE | NICK VANNETT | TITANS | 65 |
| TE | LUKE FARRELL | JAGUARS | 64 |
| RE | TOMMY TOGIAI | FALCONS | 64 |
| LG | WYATT DAVIS | BROWNS | 63 |
| LG | MICHAEL JORDAN | PATRIOTS | 63 |
| TE | LIAM MCCULLOUGH | FALCONS | 32 |
Seven former Ohio State players who are currently on NFL rosters did not make the launch rosters for Madden NFL 25: Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker Tyreke Smith, Buffalo Bills wide receiver Xavier Johnson, Denver Broncos safety Tanner McCalister, Jacksonville Jaguars safety Josh Proctor, Miami Dolphins guard Matt Jones, New England Patriots linebacker Steele Chambers and New York Jets cornerback Kendall Sheffield. Johnson, Proctor, Jones and Chambers are all undrafted rookies.
