Madden 23: Release Date and Breaking Down Star Player Ratings

This is one of the best times of the year for people who are into sports video games. That's because the next edition of the popular Madden NFL series is about to be released.

Madden 23 will be coming out on Aug. 19, although those who preorder the All Madden Edition can get access to the game three days earlier. This is the third year that Madden is being released on the newest generation of consoles (PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X).

The game may not be out yet, but we already know players' ratings. The full database can be found at EA.com.

With Madden 23 so close to being released, let's break down some of the notable ratings that players received to begin this year's edition of the game.

The 99 Club

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Irvine, CA - AUGUST 06: Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald (99) during the Los Angeles Rams training camp on August 6, 2022, at UC Irvine in Irvine, CA. (Photo by Jevone Moore/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

There are only four players who received an elusive 99 overall rating for Madden 23: Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald, Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams, Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett and San Francisco 49ers left tackle Trent Williams.

Donald and Garrett are two of the best pass-rushers in the game. Donald has recorded at least 12.5 sacks in each of the past four seasons and is a three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year. Garrett is coming off a 2021 campaign in which he collected a career-high 16 sacks.

Raiders fans will be eager to use their favorite team in Madden 23 now that Adams, the best wide receiver in the game, is on their roster. He's been tremendous throughout his eight-year NFL career (all with the Green Bay Packers to this point), and now he'll be a top-tier playmaker on Las Vegas' offense.

Although most Madden players don't control offensive linemen, Williams will give 49ers users plenty of time to sit in the pocket with new starting quarterback Trey Lance. It's always nice to have some highly rated linemen for that reason.

Best Quarterbacks

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TAMPA, FL - AUG 06: Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) throws a pass during the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Training Camp on August 06, 2022 at the AdventHealth Training Center at One Buccaneer Place in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Andrew Bershaw/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Tom Brady may have just turned 45, but that isn't affecting his Madden rating. When Madden 23 comes out, he'll be the top quarterback in the game with a 97 overall rating. His best attributes are his injury, stamina, toughness, short accuracy and play-action ratings, all of which are at a 99.

But Brady may not be the most fun QB to use in the game. That's because his speed is at a 71, and Madden players typically love to be able to scramble and run around with their quarterback. (Michael Vick in Madden 04, anyone?)

Buffalo Bills QB Josh Allen will be popular again this year, as he has an 89 overall rating along with an 89 speed rating and 99 throw power. He's the only quarterback with a throw power rating over 97 in Madden 23.

Lamar Jackson of the Baltimore Ravens is the fastest quarterback in the game with a 96 speed rating. The only other QBs with speed of 90 or higher are the Arizona Cardinals' Kyler Murray (92), Tennessee Titans rookie Malik Willis (92) and the Chicago Bears' Justin Fields (90).

Notable Rookies

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FLORHAM PARK, NJ - AUGUST 01: Cornerbacks Sauce Gardner #1 of the New York Jets during training camp at Atlantic Health Jets Training Center on August 1, 2022 in Florham Park, New Jersey. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)

It's always exciting to see what NFL rookies are rated when a new Madden comes out. They have zero games of pro experience, and their attributes could quickly climb via midseason updates as they start to prove themselves at the sport's highest level.

When Madden 23 is released, three rookies will have 78 overall ratings (the highest for any first-year players): Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams, Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jordan Davis and New York Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner.

Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Travon Walker (the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft) is one of seven rookies with a 76 overall rating. Lions linebacker Aidan Hutchinson (the No. 2 overall pick) is among the four rookies rated 77.

There's no rookie QB rated higher than a 70 to start this year's game. The Atlanta Falcons' Desmond Ridder is a 70, while Willis is a 69. The Pittsburgh Steelers' Kenny Pickett and Carolina Panthers' Matt Corral are both at 68.