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‘Madden NFL 17’ Ranks Jalen Ramsey As Top Rookie, Releases Top 10

By Oliver VanDervoort
Published on: 08:27 PST, Jul 21, 2016

Madden NFL 17 is a little over a month away from hitting store shelves, and EA Sports is gearing up by releasing its list of this year’s top rookies and what their ratings will be in the game. From one year to the next, the things that have been the biggest draw in the lead-up to the release of the game has long been gamers wanting to see just how good their favorite players are going to be in the game.

This year’s rookie class in Madden NFL 17, like those before it, is sprinkled with some game-changing talent, but the ratings show EA Sports believes even the best rookies have some growing to do. Jalen Ramsey, who played for Florida State, has come out on top of the ratings.

Madden NFL 17 has given Ramsey ratings of 82 overall thanks in large part to very high speed and acceleration ratings. The cornerback was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars early in the first round, and EA Sports seems to think he was a pretty good pick.

EA Sports writes on its official Madden NFL 17 website that Ramsey has the explosiveness to bring to the Jaguars’ secondary. The company also says the ratings in coverage mean he can play all the downs.

Coming in at No. 2 in the Madden NFL 17 ratings and just behind Ramsey is former Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliot, who has been billed by some as the next great Cowboys running back. EA Sports certainly seems to think he’s got the potential to get there. Boasting an overall rating of 80, good speed, explosiveness, and running strength, it seems the former Buckeye is a player gamers will want to see in action.

“Elliot will provide a change of pace for the Cowboys’ run game. He is also a viable 3rd down receiver in the backfield who can pick up yards in a hurry. With 92 speed and 86 carry ratings, Elliot can play every down and be the workhorse -type back America’s team needed all last season.”

The firm said on the Madden NFL 17 top 10 rookie rankings page. Coming in third on the list is left tackle Ronnie Staley, who garnered a 79 overall rating for the Baltimore Ravens.

Staley is one of three offensive linemen who managed to crack the top 10 of rookies on Madden NFL 17. RT Jack Conklin for the Titans and LG Laremy Tunsil for the Dolphins are also among the best rookies in the game, according to the development team.

One of the most interesting additions to the Madden NFL 17 rookie ratings is Roberto Aguayo, who is EA Sports’ fourth best player on their list. This addition is interesting not only because it involves a kicker but because an overall rating of 79 is not particularly stellar for a kicker.

At the same time, the company points out Aguayo, who is going to be playing for the Tampa Bay Bucs, is the first kicker to be drafted in the second round since 2005. That apparently earns him a spot as one of the best rookies out there.

It should be pointed out that the numbers for these rookies can change quite a bit over the course of the season. A good performance in Madden NFL 17 can lead to a rather big boost.

At the same time, a poor performance can lead to a drop. The first set of rating in any Madden NFL 17 game always lead to a rather robust debate about whether EA has gotten it right. What do you think of these early rankings?

Do you think EA has hit the nail on the head or do they have some work to do? Sound off in the comments and get ready because Madden NFL 17 releases for the Xbox One and PS4 on August 23, 2016.

[Image via EA]

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