Kansas City Chiefs quarterback and reigning Super Bowl champion Patrick Mahomes has joined the exclusive 99 club—so called because 99 is the highest overall rating available in the game—along with Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey, Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald and New England Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore.
EA Sports, however, has indicated the quartet aren’t the only players to receive the highest possible rating in this year’s version of the popular franchise.
Joe Burrow and Henry Ruggs III are the highest-rated rookies in the game so far and while EA Sports has so far only released the ratings for rookie quarterbacks and wide receivers, the duo are unlikely to be dethroned.
Burrow was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals with the first overall pick at the NFL Draft in April after a season in which he took college football by storm, steering LSU to a perfect 15-0 record and the national title and winning the Heisman Trophy by a landslide.
He became the first player in SEC history to throw for at least 4,000 yards and 40 touchdowns in the same season and setting a new school and conference record with 5,671 yards and 60 touchdowns.
With a 76 rating, Burrow is the highest-rated rookie quarterback, ahead of former Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who was selected with the fifth overall pick by the Miami Dolphins and has a 73 rating.
Jordan Love, Aaron Rodgers’ new understudy in Green Bay has a 71 overall rating, followed by Los Angeles Chargers quarterback and sixth overall pick Justin Herbert, who has a 70 rating.
Jalen Hurts, who led Oklahoma to the College Football Playoff semifinal last season, rounds up the top five with a 68 overall rating.
Meanwhile, after becoming the first wide receiver selected in the NFL draft in April, Las Vegas Raiders wideout Henry Ruggs III is the highest-rated rookie receiver with a 76 rating.
Ruggs, who had 40 receptions for 746 receiving yards and seven receiving touchdowns in his junior at Alabama, is followed by CeeDee Lamb and by his former teammate Jerry Jeudy, who both have a 75 rating.
A star at Oklahoma, Lamb was selected with the 17th overall pick by the Dallas Cowboys, while Jeudy was picked two spots earlier by the Denver Broncos.
Top 10 rookie quarterbacks
Joe Burrow—Cincinnati Bengals, 76Tua Tagovailoa—Miami Dolphins, 73Jordan Love—Green Bay Packers, 71Justin Herbert—Los Angeles Chargers, 70Jalen Hurts—Philadelphia Eagles, 68Jacob Eason—Indianapolis Colts, 63Jake Fromm—Buffalo Bills, 62Cole McDonald—Tennessee Titans, 60James Morgan—New York Jets, 60Jake Luton—Jacksonville Jaguars, 59
Top 10 rookie wide receivers
Henry Ruggs III—Las Vegas Raiders, 76CeeDee Lamb—Dallas Cowboys, 75Jerry Jeudy—Denver Broncos, 75Justin Jefferson—Minnesota Vikings, 74Jalen Reagor—Philadelphia Eagles, 73Brandon Aiyuk—San Francisco 49ers, 72Laviska Shenault Jr. —Jacksonville Jaguars, 72Devin Duvernay—Baltimore Ravens, 71Michael Pittman Jr. —Indianapolis Colts, 71Tee Higgins—Cincinnati Bengals, 70
According to EA Sports, Madden NFL 21 is slated for worldwide release on August 28 for PS4, Xbox One, PC and Google Stadia.
However, Madden NFL 21 will be available on August 21 for those with EA Access, Origin Access or Origin Access Premier. Members of EA Access for PlayStation 4 or Xbox One or those in possession of a Basic membership for Origin Access on PC will get up to 10 hours of game time with the Play First Trial.
Meanwhile, those who purchase either the Deluxe or the MVP version of the game will have access to it on August 25.
