That hasn’t been the case however with the “Madden NFL” franchise since 2012 thanks to its team-building mode and agreement with the NFLPA. The incredibly popular card-collecting Ultimate Team mode now features freshly drafted rookies introduced in conjunction with the NFL Draft for its sixth year running with “Madden NFL 17.” The players enter with cards reflecting the type of ratings they may start with in the next game (in this case “Madden NFL 18”) along with special future editions that rate them at what their perceived full potential is envisioned to be. The new rookies are obtained through card packs or the Auction House.
It’s important at this point in the year for any new cards introduced to Ultimate Team to be souped-up otherwise they would be irrelevant, thus justifying the high-90 rated editions of each player. The lower rated versions have some use though still as they can be put towards ‘sets’ that eventually will award an Elite edition. Here’s a look at the 32 rookies that are now found in “Madden NFL 17” Ultimate Team and the ratings categories in which they excel. While their overall ratings are based on when they were selected, the individual attribute ratings are unique to each player.
NFL DRAFT: First-round draft board, details, picks
No. 1 Myles Garrett, DE, Cleveland Browns
99 Overall Elite Key attributes: 95 Power Moves, 86 Finesse Moves, 93 Block Shedding, 93 Tackling, 92 Acceleration 84 Overall Gold Key Attributes: 90 Acceleration, 87 Power Moves, 87 Block Shedding, 83 Speed, 77 Finesse Moves
No. 2 Mitchell Trubisky, QB, Chicago Bears
98 Overall Elite Key Attributes: 95 Throw Power, 95 Throw Accuracy Short, 95 Throw on Run, 94 Play Action, 83 Speed 83 Overall Gold Key Attributes: 93 Throw Power, 86 Throw on Run, 85 Throw Accuracy Short, 84 Play Action, 80 Speed
NFL DRAFT: Bears GM explains trading up for Trubisky
No. 3 Solomon Thomas, DE, San Francisco 49ers
98 Overall Elite Key Attributes: 97 Pursuit, 95 Block Shedding, 95 Finesse Moves, 93 Strength, 84 Power Moves 83 Overall Gold Key Attributes: 88 Pursuit, 86 Block Shedding, 86 Acceleration, 85 Finesse Moves, 82 Tackling
No. 4 Leonard Fournette, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars
98 Overall Elite Key Attributes: 96 Trucking, 96 Carrying, 96 Acceleration, 95 Stiff Arm, 93 Speed 83 Overall Gold Key Attributes: 92 Acceleration, 92 Carrying, 90 Speed, 90 Agility, 89 Trucking
NFL DRAFT: Winners and losers from Round 1
No. 5 Corey Davis, WR, Tennessee Titans
98 Overall Elite Key Attributes: 97 Release, 95 Spectacular Catch, 94 Catch in Traffic, 94 Speed, 94 Jumping 83 Overall Gold Key Attributes: 91 Release, 91 Jump, 90 Speed, 88 Acceleration, 87 Catching
No. 6 Jamal Adams, SS, New York Jets
97 Overall Elite Key Attributes: 95 Acceleration, 94 Zone Coverage, 94 Pursuit, 93 Speed, 93 Play Recognition 82 Overall Gold Key Attributes: 91 Acceleration, 90 Jumping, 89 Speed, 86 Zone Coverage, 85 Pursuit
No. 7 Mike Williams, WR, Los Angeles Chargers
97 Overall Elite Key Attributes: 96 Spectacular Catch, 95 Jumping, 95 Acceleration, 93 Speed, 92 Juke Move 82 Overall Gold Key Attributes: 92 Jumping, 92 Acceleration, 90 Spectacular Catch, 89 Speed, 86 Catching
No. 8 Christian McCaffrey, RB, Carolina Panthers
97 Overall Elite Key Attributes: 97 Acceleration, 97 Agility, 94 Speed, 94 Elusiveness, 84 Catching 82 Overall Gold Key Attributes: 93 Acceleration, 93 Agility, 90 Speed, 86 Elusiveness, 79 Catching
No. 9 John Ross, WR, Cincinnati Bengals
97 Overall Elite Key Attributes: 99 Speed, 99 Acceleration, 97 Agility, 94 Elusiveness, 93 Catching 82 Overall Gold Key Attributes: 98 Speed, 97 Acceleration, 94 Agility, 90 Elusiveness, 87 Catching
No. 10 Patrick Mahomes, QB, Kansas City Chiefs
97 Overall Elite Key Attributes: 96 Throw Power, 95 Throw Accuracy Short, 93 Throw on Run, 93 Play Action, 89 Throw Accuracy Deep 82 Overall Gold Key Attributes: 93 Throw Power, 85 Throw Accuracy Short, 84 Throw on Run, 79 Speed, 78 Throw Accuracy Deep
No. 11 Marshon Lattimore, CB, New Orleans Saints
97 Overall Elite Key Attributes: 97 Acceleration, 95 Speed, 95 Zone Coverage, 94 Press, 92 Man Coverage 82 Overall Gold Key Attributes: 94 Acceleration, 92 Speed, 90 Jumping, 85 Zone Coverage, 84 Man Coverage
No. 12 Deshaun Watson, QB, Houston Texans
97 Overall Elite Key Attributes: 96 Throw Accuracy Short, 94 Throw on Run, 93 Throw Power, 89 Throw Accuracy Deep, 88 Speed 82 Overall Gold Key Attributes: 88 Throw Power, 88 Throw Accuracy Short, 88 Acceleration, 84 Speed, 79 Throw Accuracy Deep
No. 13 Haason Reddick, MLB, Arizona Cardinals
97 Overall Elite, 82 Overall Gold Top attributes: Pursuit, Awareness, Play Recognition
No. 14 Derek Barnett, DE, Philadelphia Eagles
97 Overall Elite, 82 Overall Gold Top attributes: Pursuit, Awareness, Block Shedding
No. 15 Malik Hooker, FS, Indianapolis Colts
97 Overall Elite, 82 Overall Gold Top attributes: Acceleration, Zone Coverage, Play Recognition
No. 16 Marlon Humphrey, CB, Baltimore Ravens
97 Overall Elite, 82 Overall Gold Top Attributes: Zone Coverage, Acceleration, Agility
No. 17 Jonathan Allen, DT, Washington Redskins
96 Overall Elite, 81 Overall Gold Top Attributes: Block Shedding, Strength, Power Moves
No. 18 Adoree’ Jackson, CB, Tennessee Titans
96 Overall Elite, 81 Overall Gold Top Attributes: Speed, Agility, Man Coverage
No. 19 O.J. Howard, TE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
96 Overall Elite, 81 Overall Gold Top Attributes: Catch in Traffic, Spectacular Catch, Speed
No. 20 Garrett Bolles, OT, Denver Broncos
96 Overall Elite, 81 Overall Gold Top Attributes: Pass Blocking, Impact Blocking, Strength
No. 21 Jarrad Davis, OLB, Detroit Lions
96 Overall Elite, 81 Overall Gold Top Attributes: Pursuit, Block Shedding, Hit Power
No. 22 Charles Harris, DE, Miami Dolphins
96 Overall Elite, 81 Overall Gold Top Attributes: Pursuit, Finesse Moves, Block Shedding
No. 23 Evan Engram, TE, New York Giants
96 Overall Elite, 81 Overall Gold Top Attributes: Spectacular Catch, Release, Catching
No. 24 Gareon Conley, CB, Oakland Raiders
96 Overall Elite, 81 Overall Gold Top Attributes: Man Coverage, Press, Acceleration
No. 25 Jabrill Peppers, SS, Cleveland Browns
96 Overall Elite, 81 Overall Gold Top Attributes: Agility, Acceleration, Pursuit
BENDER: Browns go in on hot Peppers
No. 26 Takkarist McKinley, OLB, Atlanta Falcons
96 Overall Elite, 81 Overall Gold Top Attributes: Pursuit, Block Shedding, Tackling
No. 27 Tre’Davious White, CB, Buffalo Bills
96 Overall Elite, 81 Overall Gold Top Attributes: Man Coverage, Acceleration, Agility
No. 28 Taco Charlton, DE, Dallas Cowboys
96 Overall Elite, 81 Overall Gold Top Attributes: Power Moves, Pursuit, Hit Power
No. 29 David Njoku, TE, Cleveland Browns
96 Overall Elite, 81 Overall Gold Top Attributes: Spectacular Catch, Jumping, Speed
No. 30 T.J. Watt, LB, Pittsburgh Steelers
96 Overall Elite, 81 Overall Gold Top Attributes: Pursuit, Finesse Moves, Block Shedding
No. 31 Reuben Foster, MLB, San Francisco 49ers
96 Overall Elite, 81 Overall Gold Top Attributes: Pursuit, Tackling, Acceleration
No. 32 Ryan Ramczyk, OT, New Orleans Saints
96 Overall Elite, 81 Overall Gold Top Attributes: Strength, Impact Blocking, Pass BlockingBryan Wiedey posts sports gaming news and analysis daily at Pastapadre.com, is co-founder of the sports gaming site HitThePass.com, hosts the “Press Row Podcast” and be reached on Twitter @Pastapadre.
