While it remains to be seen what this NFL season ends up looking like, we’re at a major point in the NFL’s offseason. EA Sports is slowly but surely releasing ratings for the upcoming release in its beloved football series, as Madden NFL 21 is set to hit shelves for current generation consoles on August 25. The game will come out on next generation consoles, too, a little later this year.
To celebrate the future, we decided to look back at the past with a keen eye on the best players from the last five games. Madden rightly makes a ton out of its 99 Club — the collection of elite players who get the game’s highest possible overall rating — but we wanted to look at the game-changers who are at least a 95 overall and see how that has changed over the years. Some names have been constants on this list, and you can absolutely guess who they are (ex: Von Miller), but as is the case in the NFL, we’re always seeing new players join the sport’s elite on a yearly basis.
All ratings via Madden Ratings.
Madden NFL 20
99 Overall: Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly, Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey, Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald, Saints receiver Michael Thomas
98 Overall: Bears linebacker Khalil Mack, Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore, Texans receiver DeAndre Hopkins, Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner
97 Overall: Cowboys guard Zack Martin, Falcons receiver Julio Jones, Niners tight end George Kittle, Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, Texans end J.J. Watt
96 Overall: Broncos linebacker Von Miller, Chiefs receiver Tyreek Hill, Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, Packers tackle David Bakhtiari
95 Overall: Chiefs tackle Mitchell Schwartz, Eagles defensive tackle Fletcher Cox, Jaguars end Calais Campbell, Saints tackle Terron Armstead, Vikings safety Harrison Smith
Madden NFL 19
99 Overall: Broncos linebacker Von Miller, Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski, Steelers receiver Antonio Brown, Rams end Aaron Donald, Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly
98 Overall: Falcons receiver Julio Jones, Raiders end Khalil Mack, Texans end J.J. Watt
97 Overall: Jaguars cornerback Jalen Ramsey, Packers tackle David Bakhtiari, Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner, Vikings safety Harrison Smith
96 Overall: Cowboys center Travis Frederick, Cowboys guard Zack Martin, Cowboys linebacker Sean Lee, Chiefs safety Eric Berry, Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell
95 Overall: Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, Giants receiver Odell Beckham Jr., Cowboys tackle Tyron Smith, Raiders center Rodney Hudson, Steelers guard David DeCastro, Giants defensive tackle Damon Harrison Sr., Saints end Cameron Jordan, Buccaneers linebacker Lavonte David, Seahawks safety Earl Thomas
Madden NFL 18
99 Overall: Broncos linebacker Von Miller, Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, Rams end Aaron Donald
98 Overall: Falcons receiver Julio Jones, Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly, Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski, Texans end J.J. Watt
97 Overall: Raiders linebacker Khalil Mack, Steelers receiver Antonio Brown, Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell
96 Overall: Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan, Ravens guard Marshal Yanda
95 Overall: Cowboys guard Zack Martin, Eagles end Brandon Graham, Seahawks safety Kam Chancellor, Washington tackle Trent Williams
Madden NFL 17
99 Overall: Broncos linebacker Von Miller, Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly, Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski, Texans end J.J. Watt
98 Overall: Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald
97 Overall: Browns tackle Joe Thomas, Chiefs linebacker Justin Houston, Cowboys tackle Tyron Smith, Ravens guard Marshal Yanda, Steelers receiver Antonio Brown,
96 Overall: Cardinals safety Tyrann Mathieu, Falcons receiver Julio Jones, Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers
Madden NFL 16
99 Overall: Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski, Texans end J.J. Watt
98 Overall: Ravens guard Marshal Yanda
97 Overall: Broncos linebacker Von Miller, Chiefs linebacker Justin Houston, Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis, Packers guard Josh Sitton, Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman, Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown
96 Overall: Chargers safety Eric Weddle, Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant, Dolphins defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, Eagles tackle Jason Peters, Jets end Muhammad Wilkerson, Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly, Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch
95 Overall: Bengals tackle Andrew Whitworth, Browns tackle Joe Thomas, Buccaneers defensive tackle Gerald McCoy, Cardinals end Calais Campbell, Chiefs fullback Anthony Spencer, Colts cornerback Vontae Davis, Colts punter Pat McAfee, Jets center Nick Mangold, Lions receiver Calvin Johnson, Patriots kicker Stephen Gostkowski, Ravens kicker Justin Tucker, Saints quarterback Drew Brees, Seahawks safety Earl Thomas, Seahawks end Michael Bennett, Seahawks tight end Jimmy Graham, Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, Vikings running back Adrian Peterson