It's been a few weeks now since EA Sports released "Madden NFL 26" to the world, but with the start of the 2025 regular season right around the corner, we thought it might be fun to give the Green Bay Packers' player ratings another look.
From an overall standpoint, things are pretty much where they probably should be heading into Week 1. We will say that Nate Hobbs' overall rating of 81 was a touch surprising, as he rates just one point below Pro Bowl edge rusher Rashan Gary (82) and sits ahead of guys like Edgerrin Cooper (79), Quay Walker (79), and Keisean Nixon (76). But that's certainly not the weirdest or worst thing we came across.
No, that honor belongs to the inexplicable speed rating for first-round rookie wideout Matthew Golden (who we're expecting big things from this season), which was brought to our attention when he himself displayed his displeasure when initial rookie ratings were released in late July.
Packers WR Matthew Golden is understandably frustrated with his speed rating in 'Madden'
For those who may have missed it, Golden was given a speed rating of 91. Now, as anything in the 90s is typically considered elite, one might wonder what there is to complain about. And the answer is that the former Texas Longhorn ran a ridiculous 4.29-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine, the fastest time of any wide receiver.
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But when the aforementioned rookie ratings were released, 17 first-year wideouts had a higher speed rating, with the Las Vegas Raiders' Dont'e Thornton Jr. leading the way with a 96. Thornton ran a 4.30-second 40 at the combine, so there's certainly nothing to argue there. The argument is simply that Golden's rating was too low. And he clearly thought so as well, as he threw up a now-deleted post on X that day, which simply contained three laughing emojis.
One can only imagine how Golden felt when the rest of the rankings were released and he found out that he only rated fifth among wideouts on his own team, trailing Christian Watson (96), Mecole Hardman (95), Jayden Reed (94), and Romeo Doubs (92). Cornelius Johnson held the same 91 speed rating, but he's since been released.
Madden ratings obviously mean nothing when it comes to actual games, but it's no secret that most NFL players take great pride in getting ranked highly in any category. It looks like Golden will just have to start blowing by defenders once the season gets underway to kick his speed rating up a few points.