Betting Markets Prove Madden NFL 25 Disrespected C.J. Stroud

Slump For Stroud?

EA Sports, the publisher of the very popular video game series "Madden NFL", released their quarterback ratings for every signal-caller in their newest edition of the series "Madden NFL 25" which comes out on August 16. Many NFL fans will be buying the game and sending their favorite team to the Super Bowl, and also seeing where their favorite players are ranked compared to others at the position in the league. EA employs "rating adjusters" to assign ratings to every player in the NFL, varying from 12 to 99 overall. Many of these guys are former players like Chad Johnson or Terrell Owens, but fans of the game and the Texans might have some beef with these guys this year.

Houston QB C.J. Stroud won NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year last year and had the best TD/INT ratio in the league. Well, the rating adjusters didn't really think that did much for him, as they gave him an 81 overall rating to start the year. In comparison, that ranks behind guys like Kirk Cousins (84 OVR) and Aaron Rodgers (83 OVR), who missed virtually their entire seasons last year due to injury. Stroud is tied with Jordan Love (81 OVR) and is rated just slightly higher than Baker Mayfield (79 OVR).

The rating adjusters may think that he is going to experience the proverbial "sophomore slump" that many QBs go through, so they didn't want to rate him too high. Still, the outrage has already begun on X and across the internet.

EA Sports, It Isn't In The Game

If you want my personal opinion, I think it is a total travesty that the NFL naming rights are owned by only EA, making them effectively a monopoly when it comes to simulating professional football. This is a game that has been plagued for years with bugs, unrealistic gameplay, and a focus on "Madden Ultimate Team" or MUT that rakes in millions for the company. The developers have been lazy for a long time, and why wouldn't they be? They have zero competition. You see it with NBA 2K now as well ever since EA stopped making "NBA LIVE", making 2k the only name in professional basketball. These games aren't what they used to be.

Futures

Stroud can stick it to them this season and ball out, and if you want to bet on him to win the NFL MVP award, you can get +850 odds right now. That is second to Patrick Mahomes on almost every odds board, and in comparison, Madden has Mahomes as a 99 overall. Kirk Cousins is 35/1 while Aaron Rodgers is 16/1. Jordan Love is 14/1, so even he has better odds than either of those guys.

I could write a book on all the reasons you shouldn't take Madden seriously or anything like a real simulator. I once put Khalil Mack in at QB for the Bears and he threw for 3,000 yards and 25 TD's in a simulated season. Hilarious, for sure, but unserious.