Cincinnati Bengals: Joe Burrow leads the way for Madden rookie ratings

Madden is releasing their player ratings for 2021 and the Cincinnati Bengals’ Joe Burrow is leading the way for rookie quarterbacks.

There was very little surprise with the number one draft pick in 2020, when it was widely expected that the Bengals would take Joe Burrow. Cincinnati did just that and the decision has largely been praised by those loyal to the franchise.

The move was further corroborated by the creators of Madden this week when they released the offensive rookie ratings. Joe Burrow is tied for the top offensive rookie in this year’s game release with an overall rating of 76, in part, because he graded out with an 86 for his throw power ability.

This overall rating makes Joe Burrow the highest-rated rookie quarterback of this year’s class, and he also would have been the highest in the class the year before him.

How new Bengals’ wide receiver Tee Higgins graded out

The biggest surprise so far in the ratings came from the wide receiver position. Henry Ruggs III was given the same overall rating as Burrow and led the way for all the wide receivers. He was followed by CeeDee Lamb and Jerry Judy.

The other news for the Bengals to follow is where second-round pick, Tee Higgins, fell. The former Clemson standout came in with a 71 overall rating and tied for the 7th best rating among wide receivers.

While these ratings do not have any influence on how the players perform for their rookie seasons, it is interesting to see how the experts at Madden agree or disagree with the front offices of the NFL.

This year, the Bengals’ front office stayed on script with what many experts and others from across the country thought they would do. Now, Joe Burrow looks to prove Madden right for placing him among the best offensive rookies in the NFL this year.