Tyree Jackson earns higher Madden 20 rating than Daniel Jones
By Seth Steere
EA Sports’ Madden Football hasn’t always gotten its ratings correct, but they may have made their boldest statement to date with their marks for two of this year’s rookie quarterbacks.
When Daniel Jones was selected sixth overall by the New York Giants, football fans everywhere were shocked. Many people began to question whether general manager Dave Gettleman knew what he was doing and insisted that he just wanted an Eil Manning clone. Most thought Gettleman should’ve waited until number 17 overall to take their chances on Jones.
It could’ve been worse, however. The Giants could’ve ended up with Buffalo’s Tyree Jackson.
Gettleman drafted Daniel Jones with the expectation that he will be their future franchise quarterback. His plan, presumably, is for Jones to sit behind Eli Manning to learn the offensive system and get acclimated to the NFL in 2019. He’s a throwback developmental quarterback.
Jones’ mannerisms are extremely similar to Manning’s, so it’s no surprise the Giants took a liking to him. If his on-field play matches Manning’s, then New York made a great pick. We just won’t know until, well, we know.
Tyree Jackson, on the other hand, was added as an undrafted free agent by the Bills. Buffalo doesn’t have any plan for Jackson to become their franchise quarterback; they already have Josh Allen.
Jackson and Allen have similar strengths; the Bills hope Jackson can be Allen’s backup of the future but making the 53-man roster will be his first obstacle. His chances got a lot better with Derek Anderson’s retirement, but to become the backup in 2019, he’ll have to unseat Matt Barkley. That’s not as easy as it sounds.
Jackson may be the bigger, stronger, and faster athlete, but that doesn’t mean EA Sports should give him a higher rating in Madden 20. It feels like this is a product of the national reaction to the Giants shocking the football world in the first round than it is an actual reflection of Jones and Jacksons’ on-field ability.
Thankfully, the Madden franchise updates ratings during the season. Expect this one to be one of their first changes.