Madden 13 Cover Vote: Power Ranking All Potential 32 NFL Athletes for the Honor

It's the new NFL year and with free agency have gone wild, we still have the 2012 NFL draft in April.

And just a few days before the draft, the newest cover athlete for Madden NFL '13 will be revealed. To that end, here's to power ranking all 32 candidates.

Full Bracket View of all 32 athletes on ESPN.

32. Brandon Lloyd

Although Brandon Lloyd is with the New England Patriots, he's not even close to their best candidate for the Madden cover.

He's a great addition to the offense, but other teammates like Rob Gronkowski (mentioned later), Tom Brady and Wes Welker would be more appealing.

31. Brian Orakpo

At this point on the Washington Redskins, there's not much to choose from.

Brian Orakpo is a stud outside linebacker, but the Redskins don't have any marketable players. That is until the draft, which unfortunately by then, the cover athlete will already be revealed.

30. LeGarrette Blount

Not entirely sure how LeGarrette Blount became the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' candidate ahead of quarterback Josh Freeman.

Also, newly acquired receiver Vincent Jackson is more attractive. Perhaps though, the Bucs want Jackson to be clear of any curses (for those that believe in it).

29. Joe Haden

Who else would there be to choose from Cleveland?

Peyton Hillis was already on the cover and he's gone, so maybe Joe Thomas or D'Qwell Jackson?

Haden is a great cornerback, but the Browns need to get him some help.

28. Matt Ryan

Doesn't it seem like we're beginning to slowly forget about Matt Ryan?

In the NFC South, he's already been overlooked by Drew Brees, and Cam Newton is taking over a bigger spotlight.

At least he has some solid offensive weapons around him, right?

27. Reggie Bush

Reggie Bush would be much higher, but it wasn't until the end of last season that he showed any consistency as a complete and every-down running back.

He could, though, have increased odds at the Madden NFL '14 cover athlete if he dominates throughout 2012 like he did at the end of 2011.

26. Sebastian Janikowski

In the 2000 NFL draft the Oakland Raiders selected Sebastian Janikowski No. 17 overall.

Yes, a kicker went in the Top 20, and Janikowski comes in at 6'2", 250 pounds. He is the Jared Lorenzen of kickers, but on a much more notable scale.

25. Dwayne Bowe

Dwayne Bowe is one of the most marketable players on the Kansas City Chiefs.

He's been a consistent performer since his rookie year in 2007 (with the exception of 2009), so why isn't he higher?

Well, Bowe goes vastly overlooked when compared to other top receivers like Calvin Johnson, Larry Fitzgerald and Andre Johnson.

24. Patrick Willis

The main man in the middle for San Francisco's defense, Patrick Willis was the No. 11 overall pick in the 2007 NFL draft.

He's been a Pro Bowler every single year as well as being selected to the All-Pro team every year as well. Willis would be ranked a lot higher, but it's hard for defenders to get the recognition like offensive players.

In a few years at the most, though, he'll be near the top.

23. A.J. Green

Easily one of the best new receivers in the NFL, Cincinnati's A.J. Green stands out quite well when looking at all Bengals players for the Madden athlete.

Quarterback Andy Dalton would not have had as successful of a season without him, but because Green was just a rookie in 2011, he still has a couple of years before the Madden cover comes calling.

22. Antonio Gates

Only one of two tight ends to make the list, San Diego's Antonio Gates has been a high-level producer on the field since the 2004 season.

However, Gates would be higher on the list, but his 2011 season only saw 13 games and seven touchdowns. It was his lowest touchdown total since his rookie season in 2003 and his third-lowest yards (778) in his career.

In the past, Gates would have been higher. Such as after the 2005 season where he caught 89 passes for 1,101 yards and 10 touchdowns.

21. Stevie Johnson

During the 2010 NFL season is when Stevie Johnson really came on the scene.

He had 1,073 yards on 82 receptions and scored 10 touchdowns. Increasing expectations for 2011, Johnson had another solid year with over 1,000 yards, seven touchdowns and 76 receptions.

However, his exposure was shunned by the Bills going 1-8 in the final nine games.

20. Dwight Freeney

One of the most recognizable defenders in the NFL, Dwight Freeney has been with the Indianapolis Colts since the 2002 season.

He's a seven-time Pro Bowl selection and has played in two Super Bowls. Just from the Colts alone, even when Peyton Manning was there, Freeney was a popular name.

19. Matt Forte

Through a little over 11 games played (injured in the 12th), Matt Forte had compiled a total of 1,487 yards, but had just four touchdowns.

After the Bears began 7-3, Forte and Co. were plagued by injuries, and the 2011 season was doomed.

Had Forte's and the Bears' season not gotten cut short, we'd see Superfans make a return on Saturday Night Live in making a Madden cover campaign of Forte. (At least that's what this Chris Farley fan would hope.)

18. LeSean McCoy

Definitely one of the most complete backs in the game, Philadelphia's LeSean McCoy only comes in at No. 18 because of all the bigger names on the Eagles.

Obviously, quarterback Michael Vick stands out, but there's also other notable players like DeSean Jackson, Trent Cole and Nnamdi Asomugha.

McCoy was, however, an All-Pro selection last season, and if he remains consistent, he'll get even more recognition over his notable teammates.

17. Marshawn Lynch

Had it not been for Marshawn Lynch's run against the Saints in the 2010-11 NFC Wild Card Round, we wouldn't have the term "beast-mode."

So, you can thank him for that and hope there's more to come in the great Northwest. Seattle, though, isn't a major market compared to other NFL franchises, and he did start off sluggish in 2011.

Nonetheless, any more beast-mode runs in the postseason and Lynch will continue to gain notoriety.

16. Chris Johnson

For a fourth-consecutive season, Tennessee running back Chris Johnson had gained over 1,000 rushing yards and also added 418 receiving yards.

Still, 2011 was a disappointing season for the 2,000-yard rusher from 2009 and if anything, it was inconsistent.

But if Johnson keeps rolling for over a grand each year and the Titans make some postseason noise, Madden could come calling sooner than later.

15. Troy Polamalu

Already having been on the cover before, it's a long shot for Pittsburgh's Troy Polamalu to make it again.

He is, though, a marketable player with the hair and because of the Steelers being a well-known franchise. Also, Polamalu is one of the few defensive players that's known quite well to even the most average football fans.

14. DeMarcus Ware

Easily one of the best defensive players in the game and arguably the best pass-rusher, DeMarcus Ware has recorded 99.5 sacks in just seven NFL seasons.

And playing for Jerry Jones in Big D, Ware with that star on his helmet is one of the most popular defensive players around. He's started 111 out of 112 games, and we can only hope to expect that kind of reliability to continue.

He's a good bet for the next defensive player to be on the cover within the next few years.

13. Tim Tebow

"Tebowmania" was off the charts from late October through the end of the 2011 season. There was no more popular player in pro football during that span, but then the Broncos got destroyed by New England in the AFC Divisional Round, and it suddenly ended.

Now with the New York Jets, Tebow is in a bigger market but will likely enter as the backup quarterback.

The good news for Tebow fans, however, is the pressure on Mark Sanchez. If Sanchez slips up early on in 2012 and Tebow goes on another magical run, he'll be a lock for the 2014 cover.

12. Darrelle Revis

Despite earning a Pro Bowl selection after the 2008 NFL season, Darrelle Revis was still largely unknown to the NFL world.

It was the 2009 campaign that really put "Revis Island" on the map, and no one could escape. That year, Revis had six picks, 31 passes defended and 54 tackles.

2010 was another All-Pro season as he was barely challenged, and 2011 brought four picks, 21 defended passes and 52 tackles. The most complete cover corner in the game, Revis has lived up to expectations in the Big Apple.

11. Jared Allen

Jared Allen has one of the best personalities in the NFL. He's hilarious on and off the field and even wrote a cookbook.

Allen also made an appearance in the movie, Jackass 3D, where he blindsided and leveled Johnny Knoxville. A four-time All-Pro selection, Allen is one of the most feared players to watch in pro football; just ask Dan Orlovsky.

10. Larry Fitzgerald

The second previous cover athlete to make the list, Arizona receiver Larry Fitzgerald continues to have dominant seasons despite a lackluster quarterback under center.

In the post-Kurt Warner era now, Fitzgerald still accumulated over 1,400 yards on 80 receptions and scored eight touchdowns last season.

2011 was his fifth consecutive Pro Bowl selection, and the Cardinals are on the rise for 2012. The most marketable player in Arizona, if the Cardinals continue to improve, Fitz has a shot at another Madden cover down the road.

9. Drew Brees

The third previous Madden cover athlete, Drew Brees remains as one of the top candidates because of his miraculous recording-setting season in 2011.

With 5,476 passing yards, a 71.2 completion percentage, 46 touchdowns and a 110.6 rating, Brees broke all those personal records in one year.

Just, wow.

8. Ray Rice

Other than Ray Lewis, Ravens running back Ray Rice is Baltimore's most marketable player. And since the days of Johnny Unitas, Baltimore's most marketable offensive player.

For one, Rice has already made the cover of the new NFL Blitz, and winning Madden on top of that would be quite impressive.

The man after all, is the Ravens offense and considered one of the best complete backs in the game. And 2011 was easily Rice's best season after totaling over 2,000 yards and scoring 15 touchdowns.

7. Arian Foster

In 2009, Arian Foster went undrafted, but was then given an opportunity by the Houston Texans as a free agent.

After spending time on the practice squad, Foster was activated and appeared in six games, rushing for 257 yards and three touchdowns.

Fast-forward to 2010 and 2011 and we see Foster compile over 2,800 rushing and 1,200 receiving yards, including 30 total touchdowns. Considering Foster went from an undrafted free agent to one of the NFL's best backs, he warrants top recognition for the Madden athlete.

6. Maurice Jones-Drew

The highest running back to make the list, Jacksonville's Maurice Jones-Drew may play in a small market, but he's arguably the best back in the league.

Jones-Drew led the NFL with over 1,600 rushing yards in 2011 and was backed by the 32nd-ranked passing offense. Having to play stout defenses such as Baltimore, Houston, Pittsburgh and Cincinnati in 2011, MJD's ability to bowl over defenses was ridiculous.

This is a guy who literally had zero help around him last year. And yet, against the elite, Jones-Drew remained elite.

5. Rob Gronkowski

2011 was a career year for Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski.

He caught 90 passes for 1,327 yards and scored 17 touchdowns. His touchdowns and yards set an NFL record for tight ends and at 6'6", 265 pounds, Gronk's balance, body control, speed and agility is freakishly unreal.

The scariest part? Gronk will only be turning 23 years old before the 2012 season kicks off.

4. Victor Cruz

Another undrafted free agent, Victor Cruz of the New York Giants barely played as a rookie in 2010.

Then when 2011 began, we hadn't seen the salsa dance until Week 3. Catching just two passes for 17 yards in Big Blue's first two contests of 2011, Cruz literally cruised thereafter and accounted for 1,536 yards on 82 receptions and scored nine touchdowns.

He continued that production through the postseason with 21 catches for 269 yards and one touchdown. In the Big Apple, there may not be a bigger name on the Giants, aside from Eli Manning, than Victor Cruz.

3. Calvin Johnson

Megatron, aka Calvin Johnson, is the NFL's most dangerous and exciting athlete to watch.

He's 6'5", 235 pounds, runs sub-4.4 seconds on the 40-yard dash and can leap through a building. Having played for six different quarterbacks in his career, Johnson has still managed to garner over 5,800 yards on 366 catches and score 49 touchdowns.

A two-time All-Pro, Megatron would crush the Madden curse into oblivion.

2. Aaron Rodgers

The 2011 NFL MVP, Aaron Rodgers threw 45 touchdowns to just six picks, over 4,600 yards, had a completion percentage of 68.3 and a final rating of 122.5.

It's arguably the best single season performance by a quarterback ever, and Rodgers did so with the NFL's worst-ranked defense that allowed 411.6 yards per game.

So, despite defenses knowing that the Packers had to rely on Rodgers' arm to win, he still couldn't be stopped.

1. Cam Newton

Arguably the most marketable player in the game, Carolina quarterback Cam Newton has been under the microscope since his 2010 college season at Auburn.

He helped the Tigers go undefeated at 14-0, won the Heisman Trophy, SEC and national championships in undisputed fashion and was the No. 1 pick in the 2011 NFL draft.

Could there possibly be any more pressure on a single rookie quarterback? No.

And Newton took that pressure and turned it into the best rookie season by a quarterback. The NFL's Offensive Rookie of the Year, Newton threw for 4,051 yards, 21 touchdowns to 17 picks, a 60.8 completion percentage and had an 84.5 rating.

Not to mention, but Newton also gained 706 rushing yards on 126 carries and scored 14 touchdowns.

If you take Cam Newton off of the Panthers roster, Carolina's offense doesn't rank No. 7 and average 25.4 points per game.

John Rozum on Twitter.