Re-ranking the Madden 25 ratings for the Commanders defense (2024)

Allen comes in as the highest overall Commander for the third Madden in a row but three ratings down from last year’s rating at launch. He’s been rated as a top-five defensive tackle for two years in a row. Allen is coming off a season with 5.5 sacks and 10 tackles for loss while ranking 17th amongst defensive tackles in pass rush win rate, according to ESPN. However, it was Allen’s worst year against the run as he ranked 117th out of 130 defensive tackles in PFF’s run-defense grade.

After a breakout 2022 season that earned him a four-year $90,000,000 million contract, Payne’s production tapered off. Both Payne and Allen struggled with extra double teams after the Commanders dealt pass rushers Montez Sweat and Chase Young at the trade deadline. Payne is a more physically gifted player than he showed last year and should benefit from an improved linebacker group behind him this season.

Armstrong proved himself as the Dallas Cowboys’ best pass rusher outside of Micah Parsons despite playing nearly half of the snaps of Demarcus Lawrence. There’s a lot to like about his diversity of pass-rush moves. The knock on Armstrong is his lack of consistency in run defense. The 77 rating is three ticks higher than his overall at launch last year but I still think he deserves a boost. Armstrong will have the opportunity to prove himself as a premier pass rusher this year.

This feels fine for Ferrell. Last season he was an underrated part of the 49er’s defensive line rotation before ending the season on injured reserve. Ferrell’s more of a capable run defender than Armstrong and Dante Fowler Jr. but is still looking for his first productive season as a pass rusher since being selected 4th overall in 2019.

Players like Davis are precisely why Madden ratings change depending on what position you put them in. On one hand, Davis is coming off his most promising season as an off-ball linebacker, a season that could even make a push for the low 80s. On the other hand, he’s being moved to an edge rusher position which he has no experience with and requires lots of nuance and a variety of techniques. This was a tough one to change.

Wagner’s 87 overall puts him as the seventh highest-rated middle linebacker in Madden 25. The reigning NFL’s tackle leader is obviously a more than serviceable option at the mike spot but the 87 seemed rich. Wagner is still deserving of a high rating but players like Patrick Queen or Nick Bolton, who are rated much lower, deserve a higher rating at this point in their careers.

Luvu is a Swiss Army Knife for Dan Quinn in the box. His 12.5 sacks and 29 tackles for loss in the past two seasons prove that. Luvu was an 80 overall at launch in the last Madden, but he’s deserving of an even higher bump. One thing to monitor when the season starts is his cover ability, which still needs some fine-tuning.

St-Juste opens up with the same rating as he did at the launch of Madden 24. Last year’s performance in the NFL’s worst secondary didn’t do him any good. Entering a contract year, St-Juste can prove himself with a new staff as a starting press corner.

Not much to bicker about with this one. Forbes wasn’t as bad last season as a lot of fans let on. It’ll be encouraging to see what he looks like with a defensive coordinator who doesn’t insist on matching him up with the most physical wide receivers in the league. His 80 overall catching is one of the highest among all cornerbacks.

With only five games to go off of Forrest didn’t have many opportunities to boost his 82 overall launch rating from last year. And when he did play he looked like a shell of his 2022 self and didn’t ever seem fully healthy. Still, Forrest is among the league’s most underrated safeties when he’s 100%.

The 2020 Defensive Rookie of the Year runner-up behind Chase Young has dropped four overalls from his highest rating in Madden 23. He’s one of those ultra-athletic gadgety box defenders that’s only as good as the situations his coach knows how to use him in. On a one-year prove-it deal Dan Quinn and his staff should help Chinn benefit in their scheme.