How did Terry McLaurin and Chase Young fare in Madden 23 player ratings?

As football fans wait patiently for the start of training camp, popular video game franchise Madden NFL has taken the initiative of releasing its player ratings for its 2023 installment to pass the time. It’s an annual tradition like no other, and one that’s grown in popularity, especially amongst players, in recent years.

Washington Commanders fans are hopeful the team’s players are well-represented by the rankings, but there’s always one or two that don’t add up.

We’re still waiting for certain positions to be released, including quarterback, cornerback, defensive tackle and running back, but the likes of wide receiver, edge rusher and tight end have all made waves on social media.

Fresh off signing a $73 million extension, Terry McLaurin received some unexpected love in the receiver rankings with a 91 overall rating.

Not only does that tie McLaurin with Chargers phenom Keenan Allen for the eighth-highest rating among WRs, but it checked in higher than Amari Cooper (90 overall), All-Pro Deebo Samuel (89), reigning Rookie of the Year Ja’Marr Chase (88), who was the most egregious snub, Michael Thomas (90) and DK Metcalf (90).

Madden 23’s player rating give Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin his due respect. What about Chase Young?

We’re not going to be delusional and proclaim that McLaurin deserved to be ahead of Chase, who set a slew of rookie records in 2021 after he surpassed Justin Jefferson for the most receiving yards by a rookie in regular season history.

With that out of the way, McLaurin’s 91 overall rating is fully deserved. After all, statistics don’t tell the full story of McLaurin’s talent. In terms of route-running, hands, contested-catch ability and deep-ball skills, Terry is a top-10 talent.

Even though these ratings mean nothing in the grand scheme of things, it was refreshing to see McLaurin get his due respect.

Moving on to the edge rusher rankings, let’s see how Commanders starters Chase Young and Montez Sweat fared. Predictably enough, neither player cracked the top-10, which featured Myles Garrett, TJ Watt, Nick Bosa, Von Miller, Khalil Mack, Joey Bosa, Cam Jordan, DeMarcus Lawrence, Chandler Jones and Rashan Gary.

Madden gave Young an 86 overall rating, which was tied for the 17th-highest rating amongst edge rushers. It’s the same rating Young had in Madden 22, which is understandable considering his lack of output last season and ACL injury.

Sweat, on the other hand, was given a 80 overall rating, which he’ll undoubtedly view as disrespect even after he tallied just five sacks in 10 games. In terms of raw talent and physical attributes, Sweat, who had an 82 rating in Madden 22, deserves to rank somewhere in the mid-80s, but we suppose the game wants to see more than a sack every two games from the former first-round pick.

As far as linebackers are concerned, Cole Holcomb’s 77 overall rating is lower than expected, but his 89 tackle rating tied Young and Chandler Jones for the eighth-highest rating among outside linebackers and edge rushers. We’ll take it!

The tight end ratings were also revealed. Coming off a torn ACL and just five games played, Logan Thomas was fittingly given a 78 overall. All Commanders fans would agree he’s more talented than that rating, which placed him behind Evan Engram (gross), Mercedes Lewis (what!), Eric Ebron and Jonnu Smith.

We hate to end on a sour note, but McLaurin is the main takeaway … and he should only climb the rankings in next year’s Madden installment now that he has a legit quarterback in Carson Wentz throwing him spirals.