Packers' Aaron Rodgers isn't the top QB in Madden 18

Heading into his 10th full season as the Green Bay Packers starting quarterback, two-time league MVP Aaron Rodgers still has some room for improvement.

According to EA Sports, that is.



The video game company released player rankings earlier this week ahead of the late-August distribution of Madden 18, the storied video game that has been a top seller since the first annual version was produced in 1990.

Rodgers was rated at 98 overall – just one point away from a perfect 99 mark that is solely owned by the featured player on the game’s cover, Tom Brady.

Left tackle David Bakhtiari and wide receiver Jordy Nelson are tied for second place on the team with a 91 overall mark. Bakhtiari was given a 69 overall rating in agility and toughness, which -- as we assume from following him on Twitter -- is likely more than ok with him.

The bump to 91 overall is a monstrous leap for Bakhtiari, who was appointed a 79 overall grade when Madden 17 launched last August.

Rodgers’ new toy in the red zone, tight end Martellus Bennett, has the fourth-highest rating on Green Bay at 89 overall.

Cornerback Kevin King, Green Bay’s top selection in the 2017 draft, is ranked at a humble 71.

At running back, Ty Montgomery has the outright lead with his 83 overall grade. Fourth-round pick Jamaal Williams leads the trio of rookie backs with a 72 rating, followed by fifth-rounder Aaron Jones (70) and seventh-round pick Devante Mays (66).

EA Sports gave Williams an edge over the other rookie running backs in run blocking (51), pass blocking (66), vision (82), spin move (77) and elusiveness (72). Mays leads the running backs – including Montgomery -- in strength (80), trucking (86) and toughness (88).  Jones boasts the top speed (89) and acceleration (93) out of the three rookie running backs.

Linebacker Vince Biegel will begin his career in Madden as a 68 overall player. Fellow former Badgers linebacker T.J. Watt is slotted at 74 overall with the Steelers (but, hey, he was drafted a few rounds earlier).

NOTABLE

— Cornerback Josh Hawkins is rated the fastest Packers player at 93. Receiver-turned-halfback Ty Montgomery leads the team in acceleration (94).

— Aaron Rodgers is tied for 33rd on the team with an agility grade of 82. Apparently, the folks at EA Sports didn’t see Rodgers juke Vikings cornerback Xavier Rhodes out of his shoes for a Week 16 touchdown last season.

— Safeties Kentrell Brice (68 overall) and Marwin Evans (61 overall) have the most bounce on the squad, tying with a jump rating of 97.

JUST FOR FUN

— Wide receiver Randall Cobb, who played quarterback in high school and college, has a throwing power rating of 70 and accuracy of 57.

— Long snapper Derek Hart is the lowest-rated Packers player at 44 overall. He’s listed as a tight end.

— When you’re playing as the Packers, don’t look for Justin Vogel to tear up the field after he punts the ball. Vogel is slotted as the Packers’ second-slowest player (57 speed), just edging out right guard Justin McCray (56 speed).