The full Madden 20 ratings are out, and right guard David DeCastro gets bragging rights as this year’s highest-rated Steeler.
The four-time Pro Bowler earned himself a 93 overall rating from the latest iteration of EA Sports’ annual Madden series. That’s best among all Steelers and second-highest among all NFL right guards, though he’s three full points behind the Dallas Cowboys’ Zack Martin.
While DeCastro should be proud of leading the black and gold in Madden ratings, it should be noted that he’s down two points from his final rating in Madden 19. Cue further debates about whether DeCastro is a future Hall of Famer or not.
The next-highest-rated Steeler is wide receiver Juju Smith-Schuster, who topped out at 88 overall. That’s exactly where he ended up after the final Madden 19 update, which is currently good for 17th-best on the list of receivers.
Steelers fans might want to avoid looking at the top of the Madden 20 receiver rankings because Antonio Brown is No. 2 with a 98 rating. Moving on.
Next up on the Steelers’ roster are defensive end Cam Heyward and left tackle Alejandro Villanueva, who both were rated at 86 overall.
Three Steelers received an 85 rating: defensive end Stephon Tuitt, center Maurkice Pouncey and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.
Big Ben may have lost two points from his last Madden 19 rating, but EA Sports still respects his game enough to make him a top 10 quarterback in Madden 20. He currently sits at No. 9 overall, sandwiched between the Atlanta Falcons’ Matt Ryan at 8 and the Carolina Panthers’ Cam Newton at 10.
Two players came in at an 84 rating, only one of which makes sense: cornberback Joe Haden and linebacker Ryan Shazier. That latter rating is clearly aspirational, given Shazier’s injury that will probably keep him out for this season and possibly beyond.
At 83, we have tight end Vance McDonald and running back James Conner. Conner discussed his Madden 20 rating in an EA Sports-produced video with other NFL stars.
Your favorite @NFL players talk Madden Ratings 😁
— Madden NFL 20 (@EAMaddenNFL) July 15, 2019
Click to see all of the #Madden20 Player Ratings: https://t.co/MpUmRKdxUK pic.twitter.com/A8YkGHcnOK
“That’s a big jump from my rookie year,” Conner said in the video. “You’ve got to earn it, you’ve got to deserve your rating.”
Again, Steelers fans, avert your eyes: Le’Veon Bell received a 92 rating and is the No. 3 overall running back. Conner is ranked 23rd among his fellow running backs, right below the San Francisco 49ers’ Tevin Coleman and above the Tennessee Titans’ Derrick Henry.
The highest-rated Steelers rookie is, unsurprisingly, linebacker and No. 10 overall pick in the 2019 NFL draft Devin Bush at 72.
Madden ratings are fluid and get updated periodically based on players’ performances on the gridiron. Don’t expect these ratings to be the same come the end of the 2019-20 season.
Joshua Axelrod: jaxelrod@post-gazette.com and Twitter @jaxel222
First Published: July 15, 2019, 9:54 p.m.
