Caleb Downs, the Dallas Cowboys' safety selected with the No. 11 overall pick, has earned the top rookie rating in Madden NFL 27, tied with Arizona Cardinals running back Jeremiah Love.
The Dallas Cowboys found a draft-day steal when the team traded up one spot to grab safety Caleb Downs with the No. 11 overall pick. His impressive rating is a testament to his potential for future stardom. The 82 overall rating is the highest among this year's rookie class, according to the game's developers.
However, not everyone in the top 10 is receiving praise. Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza, selected No. 1 overall in the 2026 NFL Draft, has been given a lower rating. Mendoza clocks in with a 74 overall, which ties him for the 49th highest rating rookie in the game. Two other Raiders rookies, second-round safety Treydan Stukes and third-round defensive end Keyron Crawford, both rank higher than Mendoza.
While Mendoza was the top-overall pick in the draft, quarterback is an extremely difficult position to learn in the NFL. Plenty of first-round picks — and even No. 1 overall picks — have failed to translate their college success to the NFL. This might explain why the developers played it safe with Mendoza.
Mendoza's lower-than-expected rating continues a bit of a trend for the game. Last year, Tennessee Titans quarterback Cam Ward became the lowest-rated No. 1 overall pick in Madden in over two decades. Ward came in with a 72 rating last season.
Madden ratings tend to cause plenty of agita in the offseason, but they ultimately mean very little. Sure, players sometimes take their numbers too seriously, but there's not much of a difference between an 84 and an 86, as an example.
The Madden ratings for rookies have sparked debate, but one thing is clear: Fernando Mendoza has plenty of room to see his rating grow if he turns in a fantastic rookie season. For now, he's gotta prove it if he wants to shoot up the rookie rankings.
Source: Yahoo Sports