Every single offseason, whether you're a gamer or not, NFL fans look forward to seeing the latest Madden ratings for the upcoming season and where their favorite players rank amongst the rest of the league. Generally, there's always an argument to be made about who ranks where, and that's certainly the case this year, even with the Patriots.
Unfortunately for New England, there isn't a lot of discussion about players not being ranked high enough, as they haven't had many star players on the roster that would bode that kind of conversation, outside of Christian Gonzalez that is.
But there is plenty to be discussed about their wide receiver rankings for a different reason, which has become an even bigger talking point after the recent injury news to Ja'Lynn Polk.
The weirdest Madden rating for the Patriots' 2025 roster is not something that could have been predicted
For the most part, Patriots fans aren't all that interested in seeing what the Madden ratings are for their team as much as other fans, mostly because since the departures of some of the most legendary players, the team hasn't had many superstars to get excited about.
That explains why the biggest gripe with the Madden ratings this year is over a mid ranking between Ja'Lynn Polk and Kayshon Boutte.
Despite putting up over 500 yards during the 2024 season, Boutte somehow was ranked lower than last year, while Polk, who many even forgot was on the roster last year, somehow went up and is now ranked higher than his teammate.
JaLynn Polks rating went up from Madden 25 to Madden 26.
— New England Sports Review (@nesportreview) August 1, 2025
71 Overall to 74 Overall
Kayshon Boutte rating went down from Madden 25 to Madden 26.
75 overall to 74 Overall pic.twitter.com/hD5xhfKzND
This seems to prove that the game's rating system is a sham, or, at the very least, entirely flawed.
There's absolutely no reason for Polk's score to increase whatsoever based on what we saw from him during his rookie season. At the same time, there's nothing credible to support Boutte's ranking going down from how well he played in 2024, which should have helped him move up in the rankings instead.
Making the ratings even more questionable is a Patriots' rookie's rating vs. the No. 1 overall pick in this year's draft.
Sixth-round selection, kicker Andres Borregales, received a 73 in Madden '26. That is an entire point higher than quarterback Cam Ward, whom the Titans took with the first overall pick earlier this year. The idea that a kicker would rank higher than a quarterback is wild to consider, especially when that player was the first one taken in an NFL draft.
It's just the latest example of another weird decision by those who create the Madden games. Fortunately, it's not something that should impact their performances once the season begins.