EA continues to reveal the top player ratings for the upcoming Madden NFL 15, this time highlighting which five quarterbacks will be the best when the game launches in August.
Who sits at the top isn't much of a surprise. In first place, with an overall score of 98, is Peyton Manning of the Denver Broncos.
"Peyton's arm strength may be trending down (86 THP), but everything else about him is still legendary," as stated by EA Tiburion employee and Madden ratings "Czar" Donny Moore in his analysis of each player. Manning has the highest stats of all players in a number of categories, including a 99 short accuracy, 96 medium throw accuracy and 98 play action.
Also with an overall score of 98, but in second place, is Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers, who, while not as accurate as Manning, is still formidable, sporting the highest deep pass score of 90.
That deep pass strength is much different from the ability of the third highest rated quarterback in Madden NFL 15 -- Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints. Brees holds a number high stats, inferior only to Manning in the short and medium accuracy departments. Deep passes, however, are not Brees' speciality
"He falls to 81 Deep Accuracy (ranked 17th in NFL) after a rough 2013 season where he hit only 40.3% of deep passes according to Pro Football Focus," Moore says.
Seatle Seakhawks QB Russell Wilson takes the fourth place spot. Despite being only 5'11, Moore says that doesn't stop Wilson from being "a dual threat with his 86 SPD (ranked eighth in NFL for QBs), 90 AGI (seventh), 92 ACC (second), and 93 Throw Power." Add that onto his third place ranked deep throw and Wilson is quite the package.
At the bottom of the best is Tom Brady with the New England Patriots. While that might not sound great, Brady still packs a punch with a 94 rated short and medium accuracy as well as a 93 throw power. As Moore puts it: "There are plenty of reasons to NOT give up on Touchdown Tom just yet."
Moore has been creating player stats for the Madden franchise since 2002, and uses sources like ESPN Insider to determine the strengths and weaknesses of individual players. Those stats may rise or fall based on player performance over the course of the year's NFL season.
Developer EA Tiburon will be revealing more player stats over the new few weeks leading up to Madden NFL 15's release on August 26 for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.
