The highly anticipated launch ratings for players in EA Sports’ Madden NFL 26 have begun to surface, creating immediate discussion and controversy, particularly around the Green Bay Packers’ first-round draft pick, Matthew Golden. The release of these initial scores has spotlighted the disparities between real-world athletic performance and in-game attributes, drawing a notable reaction from Golden himself regarding his perceived speed.
Despite clocking an astonishing 4.29-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine, which stood as the fastest time among all wide receivers, Matthew Golden has been assigned a speed rating of merely 91 in the upcoming Madden 26. This stark contrast between his elite combine performance and his video game attribute has fueled much of the current debate surrounding rookie evaluations within the popular football simulation.
Adding to the intrigue, a surprising seventeen other rookie wide receivers boast a higher speed rating than Golden in Madden 26, despite none of them matching his electrifying 40-yard dash time. Notable examples include Dont’e Thornton, who leads the pack with a 96 speed rating after running a 4.30, and others like Chicago’s Luther Burden III, Houston’s Jaylin Noel, New England’s Kyle Williams, Kansas City’s Jalen Royals, and Seattle’s Tory Horton, none of whom approached Golden’s remarkable combine speed.
Golden’s immediate reaction to his speed score was a now-deleted post on social media platform X, containing simply three laughing emojis, seemingly expressing disbelief or amusement at the rating. His exceptional 40-yard dash had been a significant talking point prior to the draft, as many analysts were surprised by such explosive speed given his tape, making the Madden rating even more perplexing to some.
While his speed rating raised eyebrows, Matthew Golden did receive an impressive 97 rating for acceleration, which accurately reflects his exceptional 10-yard split. This particular metric placed him in the 99th percentile among his positional peers since the combine’s inception, underscoring his quick burst and initial explosiveness, which Madden developers evidently recognized.
Beyond speed, Golden’s overall rating in Madden 26 stands at a respectable 76, placing him tied for second among all rookie wide receivers alongside Luther Burden III. This puts him just one point behind Tetairoa McMillan, who was the top wideout drafted besides Travis Hunter, who boasts an 84 overall rating but is primarily listed as a cornerback in the game, highlighting Golden’s promising early career standing.
The Madden 26 ratings reveal also included other key Green Bay Packers rookies. Second-round pick Anthony Belton, an offensive tackle, received a 71 overall rating, ranking seventh at his position, which aligns well with his draft position. Third-rounder Savion Williams was awarded a 70 overall rating, tying for fifteenth among receivers, and notably carries a 90 speed score himself.
Further down the draft board, fourth-round EDGE Barryn Sorrell and fifth-round EDGE Collin Oliver both share a 70 overall rating. Oliver’s specific attributes stand out with an 87 speed and 90 acceleration, indicating his potential impact off the edge. Sixth-round pick Warren Brinson is rated 66 overall, while seventh-rounders Micah Robinson and John Williams received ratings of 67 and 63 respectively, rounding out the drafted class.
Even Green Bay’s undrafted free agents saw their Madden 26 ratings disclosed, with Tyler Cooper earning a 64 and Jamon Johnson a 63. However, a noticeable omission from the initial release is a rating for Brinson’s Georgia teammate Nazir Stackhouse, who has already made an impression in training camp, and Canadian quarterback Taylor Elgersma, leaving fans curious about their in-game potential.
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