How did Madden 21 rate your favorite former Rebel?

With NFL Training Camp (supposedly) on the horizon and football season creeping closer, it’s the time of year for getting #MadOnline over subjective player evaluations.

Madden ratings performance adjustors have spent the last six months fine-tuning each numerical value for over 2,000 players on NFL rosters, gearing up for EA Sports’ worldwide release of Madden NFL 21 on August 28. The ratings were released last week, and while internet warriors yell into the abyss, we thought we would look at the ratings of the 28 Ole Miss football alumni on an NFL roster for the 2020 season.

Here is how they fared:

Overall, the numbers seem fair, but I have a few bones to pick with the Madden evaluators. Let’s take a closer look at a handful of specific players:

Laquon Treadwell — WR, Atlanta Falcons

Laquon Treadwell was signed by the Atlanta Falcons in March, after spending his first three years in the league with the Minnesota Vikings. The naysayers will say that the No. 23 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft didn’t pan out. While that is certainly fair to some regard, it doesn’t take into account his lack of opportunity and his success at the things he does best.

Queezy was a star at Ole Miss and broke multiple records. He dominated defensive backs in jump-ball situations and moved faster than he might have led on. Where Megaquon really made his money was as a dominant blocker.

For Madden to rate him an 86 speed is fair when he gets to top speed in space, if not slightly higher than it should be. An 80 jumping is fine, an 80 catch in traffic is about right, an 85 spectacular catch is in the ballpark, and an 81 overall catching hits the mark.

However, to rate Treadwell as a 72 strength is low. He will stand in open space, take a hit and pop right up talking smack. He’s a tough dude and 72 doesn’t reflect that.

The real issue is with his blocking. To give him a 44 run blocking is ludicrous. He might be the best blocking receiver in the league, and that’s not an overstatement.

We’ve seen it time and time again.

And it’s not like it’s a new revelation. Treadwell will man-mark you, get his hands inside and drive his legs, or he will simply wreck your world.

A 44 run block is simply insulting. But what might be just as bad is a 38 throw power and 23 throw on the run. Quon spent some time at quarterback in high school and threw the ball more often than he should have at Ole Miss. Hugh Freeze loved the Treadwell pass.

Does this look like a 38 throw power to you?

What about his ability to throw on the run?

All in all, the rating is about as good as the Madden evaluators could give to a fourth year first-round pick who hasn’t produced as much as expected in the NFL. His fresh start with the Falcons could prove to be a turning point, but either way, he deserves better than a 44 run blocking rating. That’s nonsense.

Dawson Knox — TE, Buffalo Bills

A 71 overall rating for Dawson Knox seems slightly below what it should be. The reason for that number lies with some severely low ratings deeper in the bunch. 87 speed for the big fella might be a little bit high but doesn’t change much, 90 acceleration is spot-on, 85 agility is plenty, and 76 catching is okay. All fair and balanced.

While that is well and good, to give Knox a 69 strength, 50 break tackle, 70 trucking, 72 stiff arm and 85 toughness is low. Let’s start with example A, which covers toughness.

If you’re not convinced that 85 is low yet, fine. Perhaps example B will change your mind.

Is that stiff arm a 72 to you? His strength isn’t even considered a C? Did he not break that tackle better than a 50 rating? And that’s not even all. Check this out:

Seems to me like he’s pretty tough, pretty strong, laid down a perfect stiff arm, easily broke two tackles, and firmly trucked the second challenger. Perhaps he is discredited by the Madden folk because it was against the Bengals.

Laremy Tunsil — LT, Houston Texans

When I saw the breakdown of Laremy Tunsil’s 85 overall Madden rating, I was shocked to see him below an 88, but wasn’t irate. When I saw that there are six left tackles rated higher than him, I was irate. David Bakhtiari, Terron Armstead, Ronnie Stanley, Trent Williams, Tyron Smith and Andrew Whitworth are all rated higher than the king. If he wasn’t the highest rated tackle in the game, that’s alright— but to put six players in front of him is a bold statement.

91 strength is low and 90 awareness is comfortable, but neither are worth arguing over. However, to give the man anything less than a 90 as a pass blocker is simply wrong.

There is no denying that Tunsil is better on passing downs than as a run blocker. That doesn’t mean an 80 is warranted. The 6-foot-5, 305-pound rookie played a little bit of guard as a rookie and still dominated opposing defenses.

In his natural position, Tunsil’s speed and vision is uncanny. Watch here as he gets out ahead of a screen and clears a big lane for his back.

His run blocking may not be perfect, but it’s better than a B-. He is the lowest-rated run blocker of any left tackle that is an 80 overall rating or higher. Come on.

Also, a 26 catching rating seems to neglect his Sugar Bowl performance.

He has to be at least a 35 catching...... Oh well, money talks.

D.K. Metcalf — WR, Seattle Seahawks

He can run (95 speed). He can get up and go (93 acceleration).

He can jump (96 jumping).

He can really jump (96!!! jumping).

He is solid off of the line (82 release) and moves well enough (76 change in direction).

With that all being said, to give DeKaylin Zecharius Metcalf a 78 strength rating is comical. For starters, he put up 27 reps in the NFL Combine bench press. He was measured at 6-foot-3, 228 pounds... with 1.6% body fat. Just looking at him, he’s probably a 101 strength.

Once he gets on the field, it’s even more clear how silly it is to rate him weaker than Ben Rothlisberger, Jordan Howard, Cam Newton, Alshon Jeffrey and Mike Evans. Okay, sure.

His playoff performance against the Eagles alone is merit for at least an 80 overall.

Marshawn Lynch said it best:

A.J. Brown — WR, Tennessee Titans

Arthur James Brown is another Ole Miss wide receiver that got totally duped in the strength department. A 73 for this guy is incorrect.

We’ll let Mina Kimes take it from here:

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To find the full player ratings by team, position and category, click here. What do you think? Who is too high? Who is too low?