The first of training camps for most NFL teams is just a week away. After a brief interruption, football is back in the consciousness of the sports fan ... if it e'er really left. And with it comes the preparation for the latest Madden video game. But this yr's game, which will be released Aug. 19, is a picayune bit different.

Following the death of the series' namesake, Hall of Fame coach John Madden, on Dec. 28, 2021, and EA Sports' determination to put Madden on the cover, in that location'southward a feeling of legacy around the game this year. But Madden e'er wanted the game to be about football and to judge the reality of the sport he loved to charabanc, teach and talk about as closely as it could. He was the one who pushed for it to be xi-on-11 at the first. He was the one who was still involved in aspects of the video game up until his expiry.

As the game grew in the zeitgeist of American culture, sure aspects stood out more than others. Ratings matter to players. They'll complain on social media almost their rating and sometimes raise questions to those who are doing it. The Madden staff has an entire coiffure dedicated to adjusting ratings throughout the year. Information technology'south a big bargain.

And with that in mind, here's a breakup of the initial ratings at launch of Madden 23, some summit players at each position and the annual 99 social club, which has turned into an honor around the sport. We'll whorl out more positions each twenty-four hour period this week:

Cornerbacks

1. Jalen Ramsey, Rams: 98

2. Jaire Alexander, Packers: 94

3. Tre'Davious White, Bills: 93

T-iv. Darius Slay, Eagles: 92

T-4. Denzel Ward, Browns: 92

T-6. Marshon Lattimore, Saints: 91

T-6. Stephon Gilmore, Panthers (91)

T-viii. J.C. Jackson, Chargers (90)

T-8. Marlon Humphrey, Ravens (90)

x. A.J. Terrell, Falcons (89)

Dropped out: Xavien Howard (No. vi), James Bradberry (No. 7), Kendall Fuller (T-8), Marcus Peters (T-x), Byron Jones (T-ten)

Jalen Ramsey may have lost his 99 Club membership (for now), merely the Los Angeles Rams corner remains in the top spot in Madden for the 2nd directly year with a 98 overall rating. It's beneath Ramsey where the milkshake-upwardly has really started to happen.

Last year'due south No. 2, Indianapolis' Stephon Gilmore (then with the Patriots earlier being traded to Carolina), dropped from a 97 to a 91 and into a tie for sixth. Greenish Bay's Jaire Alexander, tertiary last yr with a 95, is now 2d despite dropping i point to a 94. Buffalo's Tre'Davious White remains at a 93 merely moved from fourth to third.

Philadelphia'due south Darius Slay and Cleveland's Denzel Ward moved into a tie for fourth at 92 overall -- a spring from 88 overall and a necktie for 10th concluding twelvemonth for Slay and 89 overall and a tie for eighth concluding year for Ward.

New Orleans' Marshon Lattimore joins Gilmore at No. vi with a 91 after non beingness in the superlative 10 last yr (he was an 87 overall). Another new face, the Chargers' J.C. Jackson, is tied for No. 8 with Baltimore'due south Marlon Humphrey, who was fifth last season with a 92. Jackson was an 85 overall to offset last flavour.

At No. 10 is another rising role player, Atlanta'south A.J. Terrell, who began terminal year as a 77 overall and is now an 89 afterwards a season when he turned into a shutdown corner for the Falcons.


Interior defensive linemen

ane. Aaron Donald, Rams (99)

T-2. Cameron Heyward, Steelers (93)

T-2. Vita Vea, Buccaneers (93)

4. Jonathan Allen, Commanders (92)

5. Chris Jones, Chiefs (91)

6. DeForest Buckner, Colts (90)

7. Kenny Clark, Packers (89)

T-8. Jeffery Simmons, Titans (88)

T-8. Michael Pierce, Ravens (88)

10. Fletcher Cox, Eagles (88)

Dropped out: Calais Campbell (No. vii), Stephon Tuitt (T-8), Akiem Hicks (T-ten)

While Wednesday we mentioned Justin Tucker being the easiest call at the top of his position group, that's non entirely true. That should exist perennial 99 Society member Aaron Donald. The Los Angeles Rams star is once again a 99 in the game and this year ties Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning for the nearly 99 Society appearances in the history of the game.

Information technology's the sixth straight twelvemonth Donald is a 99, and if he plays in 2023, one would call back he'll pause Manning's tape.

How much better is Donald than everyone else on the interior? Pittsburgh's Cam Heyward, himself a dominant actor, is a 93 overall, tied for No. ii with Tampa Bay'southward Vita Vea. That's a leap of one ratings indicate for Heyward and out of the cluster he was in tied for third last year. Information technology'southward a bigger move for the run-stopping trouble that is Vea, who was an 88 and tied for No. x in Madden '22.

Washington's Jonathan Allen is by himself at No. 4 with a 92 overall -- some other big mover like Vea from an 88 final season.

Kansas Urban center's Chris Jones, who was also tied for third last yr with Heyward and Indianapolis' DeForest Buckner, is now fifth at a 91 overall. Buckner is sixth with a 90.

Green Bay'southward Kenny Clark stayed at an 89 overall simply moved into 7th past himself, and there's a three-way tie for eighth at 88 with Tennessee's Jeffery Simmons, Baltimore'south Michael Pierce and Philadelphia's Fletcher Cox, who was No. 2 behind Donald terminal year.


Running backs

1. Derrick Henry, Titans: 97

T-2. Nick Chubb, Browns: 96

T-two. Christian McCaffrey, Panthers: 96

4. Jonathan Taylor, Colts: 95

five. Dalvin Cook, Vikings: 94

6. Joe Mixon, Bengals: 93

vii. Alvin Kamara, Saints: xc

8. Aaron Jones, Packers: 89

T-9. Austin Ekeler, Chargers: 88

T-9. Ezekiel Elliott, Cowboys: 88

Dropped out: Saquon Barkley (No. 7), Josh Jacobs (No. 8)

For the second straight year, no running back will kickoff the season in the Madden 99 club, but at that place are a agglomeration of realistic candidates to potentially get there.

That starts with the No. one-ranked back. Henry moves from a tie for second to first this year, and a 96 to a 97 overall. The 28-year-erstwhile was on pace for some other season close to 2,000 yards but missed nine games in 2021 -- and had he been salubrious, he might have been a 99. If he gets back to normal form, he could go in that location.

McCaffrey dropped from No. 1 terminal yr down to a tie for second, and from 97 to 96 overall. Similar Henry, if he is healthy and plays well, a return to 99 condition is realistic. Chubb is tied with McCaffrey and made no moves from last season, remaining in second and at a 96. Taylor, who had a breakout second NFL flavor with an NFL-all-time 332 carries for ane,811 yards and eighteen touchdowns, comes in at No. iv at a 95 overall. Considering his age (23) and skills, he could be the No. ane back in the game earlier too long.

Information technology's clear Madden raters believe there'southward a tier system with the backs. Behind the top half dozen -- Cook is at No. five with a 94, and Mixon is No. 6 at 93 -- there's a iii-point drop. The adjacent 4 backs are all talented but heading in unlike directions.

Kamara slid back iv ratings points (and ii slots) from 94 to ninety, and No. 5 to No. seven. Jones dropped back slightly from 91 to 89 and No. 6 to No. eight. Ekeler made a move into the top 10, tied at No. 9 with an 88 -- the same rating Elliott had both last season and at launch for this flavour.

This feels similar a position group that could have a ton of movement in the next two years.


Safeties

1. Tyrann Mathieu, Saints: 94

ii. Derwin James Jr., Chargers: 93

T-three. Budda Bakery, Cardinals: 92

T-3. Kevin Byard, Titans: 92

T-5. Micah Hyde, Bills: 91

T-five. Justin Simmons, Broncos: 91

T-7. Jessie Bates 3, Bengals: 90

T-vii. Jordan Poyer, Bills: ninety

T-seven. Harrison Smith, Vikings: 90

T-7. Jamal Adams, Seahawks: 90

Dropped out: Devin McCourty (No. 3), Minkah Fitzpatrick (T-8), Eddie Jackson (T-eight), Adrian Amos (T-8)

Information technology's a new team for Mathieu, going from Kansas City to New Orleans, and he dropped slightly from 95 overall to 94. Just for the second direct year, Mathieu is the safety king.

The biggest mover amid safeties might also be the best bodily Madden player of the bunch: James leaped back into the top 10 and from an 88 to a 93 rating, good enough for No. ii overall. He takes that spot from Bakery, who moved from No. 2 to a tie for third, and from a 93 to a 92. Byard returns to the list afterward a one-year absence, tied for third with Baker.

A pair of Bills make the listing, as Hyde is tied for 5th (91 overall), and Poyer is in a tie for seventh at 90 overall. Hyde is tied with Simmons, who kept the aforementioned rating from last twelvemonth, and Poyer is tied with Bates (who moved from a 91 to a 90), Smith and Adams. Both Adams and Smith -- who was the No. one prophylactic in Madden 21 -- stayed at 90 for the 2nd straight year.


Kickers

1. Justin Tucker, Ravens: 90

2. Harrison Butker, Chiefs: 84

three. Evan McPherson, Bengals: 83

T-four. Chris Boswell, Steelers: 82

T-four. Younghoe Koo, Falcons: 82

T-6. Graham Gano, Giants: 81

T-6. Daniel Carlson, Raiders: 81

eight. Robbie Gould, 49ers: 80

nine. Matt Gay, Rams: 79

10. Nick Folk, Patriots: 78

Tucker could end up in the Hall of Fame one day and might exist the best kicker ever. That he again is Madden's top kicker is maybe the least surprising ratings reveal that could happen.

Tucker jumped from an 87 to a 90 this year, the simply kicker in the game over an 85 rating. Butker remained at an 84 but moved from No. 3 to No. 2, and McPherson leapt from a 71 at launch concluding year to an 83 this year to have the No. three spot.

Koo moved up from an 81 to an 82 afterward one time again existence one of the league's well-nigh accurate kickers -- and getting paid like it with a large offseason extension -- into a necktie for fourth with Boswell, who also moved from an 81 to an 82.

Gano dropped from fourth to sixth and from an 82 to an 81, and he is at present in a tie with Carlson, who made a move similar to McPherson, jumping from a 73 to an 81. Top-10 mainstay Gould remained at an 80, followed by Gay and Folk rounding out the superlative 10.

Dropped out: Jason Sanders (No. 2), Josh Lambo (No. 4), Matt Prater (No. 9), Greg Zuerlein (T-No. ten), Wil Lutz (T-No. x).


Border rushers

1. Myles Garrett, Browns: 99

ii. T.J. Watt, Steelers: 96

3. Nick Bosa, 49ers: 94

T-iv. Von Miller, Bills: 92

T-4. Khalil Mack, Chargers: 92

T-six. Joey Bosa, Chargers: 91

T-half-dozen. Cameron Jordan, Saints: 91

T-eight. DeMarcus Lawrence, Cowboys: 90

T-viii. Chandler Jones, Raiders: 90

10. Rashan Gary, Packers: 89

Dropped out: J.J. Watt (T-three), Za'Darius Smith (T-10), Danielle Hunter (T-10)

Terminal December, Garrett became the get-go Browns histrion in the history of Madden to earn a 99. At present, he's the first Browns player to exist part of the 99 order at launch. He is coming off his 4th directly double-digit-sack season later a career-loftier 16 last season. Information technology's the second year in a row in which Garrett is the superlative edge rusher at launch (he was a 98 overall to start last twelvemonth).

T.J. Watt, last year's NFL Defensive Player of the Year, moved from third to second in this year's initial ratings and jumped from a 94 to a 96. Nick Bosa was the big mover in the group. Last year, he started at No. 9 with a 90 overall rating. At present, he'southward third with a 94.

Miller switched teams from last year's launch -- twice -- outset being traded from Denver to the Rams and then signing with Buffalo in complimentary agency. While he dropped to a 92 overall from 93 this season, he moved up from tied for 6th to tied for quaternary with Mack, who was No. two and a 96 overall last yr.

The bottom one-half of the top ten has a couple of new faces and also is without future Hall of Famer J.J. Watt, who was tied for third as an border rusher last season.


Linebackers

1. Fred Warner, 49ers: 94

2. Demario Davis, Saints: 93

3. Lavonte David, Buccaneers: 92

four. Bobby Wagner, Rams: 91

5. Darius Leonard, Colts: 90

6. Roquan Smith, Bears: 89

T-7. Micah Parsons, Cowboys: 88

T-7. Eric Kendricks, Vikings: 88

9. De'Vondre Campbell, Packers: 87

10. Devin White, Buccaneers: 85

Dropped out: Dont'a Hightower (No. viii), Deion Jones (No. ix), Myles Jack (No. x)

Non much has changed at linebacker. Warner remains the top middle linebacker in Madden with the same rating he had at launch last yr (94).

In actuality, the elevation four linebackers from a season agone all remain the same, merely in a different gild. Concluding yr'southward guild was Warner, David, Wagner and Davis, but this flavour goes Warner-Davis-David-Wagner.

Leonard moved upwards from sixth to fifth, and up to 90 this year from 89 last year. Kendricks, fifth terminal season, dropped to a necktie for seventh this year -- with Parsons at an 88 overall rating. Parsons, by the fashion, has a chance to be a breakout candidate in Madden this year. The bottom of the elevation 10 sees Campbell and White join as new additions.


Wide receivers

1. Davante Adams, Raiders: 99

ii. Cooper Kupp, Rams: 98

three. Tyreek Hill, Dolphins: 97

4. DeAndre Hopkins, Cardinals: 96

5. Stefon Diggs, Bills: 95

6. Justin Jefferson, Vikings: 93

vii. Mike Evans, Buccaneer: 92

T-eight. Terry McLaurin, Commanders: 91

T-8. Keenan Allen, Chargers: 91

10. Amari Cooper, Browns: 90

Dropped out from launch terminal year: Julio Jones (No. 5), Allen Robinson II (No. 10)

Perhaps no group of players has received as much of a boost in real life this past offseason as receivers. Once Christian Kirk received his 4-year, $72 million contract from Jacksonville, information technology seemed to set off an explosion of money going to premium players at the position. And it, in many ways, turned receiver into a key NFL position alongside quarterback, left tackle, edge rusher and cornerback. Receivers are getting mega money -- and in Madden, their ratings accept reflected just how talented this grouping has become.

Information technology'southward 1 of three groups where the entirety of the pinnacle x has a rating of xc or above, and every bit many every bit five receivers could take potential claim to existence the best in the game.

While Adams has moved from the Packers to the Raiders, his status every bit the elevation receiver in the game -- and in the 99 club at launch -- remains the same. Last year represented a big bound from Adams, who was a 94 overall at the launch of Madden 21.

Behind Adams, there'south meaning movement. Hopkins dropped from 98 to 96, and from second to fourth. Replacing him at No. 2 overall is Kupp, who went from exterior the top ten at the outset of terminal yr to a 98 overall after a 145-take hold of, 1,947-grand, 16-touchdown season. Kupp's emergence knocked a lot of players downward at least one spot.


Tight ends

ane. Travis Kelce, Chiefs: 98

ii. George Kittle, 49ers: 97

3. Marker Andrews, Ravens: 93

four. Darren Waller, Raiders: 91

5. T.J. Hockenson, Lions (89

6. Kyle Pitts, Falcons: 87

7. Mike Gesicki, Dolphins: 86

8. Dallas Goedert, Eagles: 85

T-9. Zach Ertz, Cardinals: 84

T-9. Hunter Henry, Patriots: 84

Dropped out: Austin Hooper (No. half dozen), Rob Gronkowski (No. 7)

For a position that continues to abound in telescopic and importance on the field, the man at the top of it remains the same. While Kelce is no longer a member of the 99 club -- although don't be surprised if he earns information technology back during the 2022 season -- he remains the No. 1 tight terminate in the game with a 98 rating. And other than one other player, the list behind him is not all that shut.

Kelce's biggest competition is Kittle, one of his beau Tight End University stalwarts. Kittle is the No. ii tight stop again this season and is now a 97 overall, upwardly from 96 terminal year. And then comes the drib. Andrews (93 overall) enters the 90s and moves from No. 4 to No. 3. He flips with Waller, who drops from No. three to No. 4 and from a 93 last year to a 91 this twelvemonth.

Later that, big moves happen. Hockenson -- one of the game'due south tiptop young tight ends -- is now No. 5 in the game and an 89 overall after existence No. 9 and an 85 concluding flavor. Pitts had the all-time second-best flavor for a rookie tight end in 2021, including 68 catches and 1,026 yards, and is now No. 6 with an 87. Gesicki slightly bumps up from No. eight to No. 7 and from an 85 to an 86. Goedert made a similar motility from No. 10 to No. 8 and from 84 to 85. Ertz, ane of the nearly consequent tight ends in the league, made a big leap from an 80 overall to an 84 and enters the top ten at No. 9.