On August 16, 2024, Madden NFL 25 will hit the shelves and be available to play – unless you choose to preorder it.

For the Bucs fans out there who might be purchasing a copy, what are each player’s ratings?

After slowly rolling out the ratings, each NFL team is fully revealed. While you can check out all of the ratings here, below is a more in-depth breakdown of how the 2024 Buccaneers are rated prior to the season starting.

The Top 10 Rated Bucs Players In Madden NFL 25

Let’s first take a look at who the team’s top 10 ranked Bucs players are.

Bucs LT Tristan Wirfs and RT Luke Goedeke – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

1. FS Antoine Winfield Jr. – 94

2. LT Tristan Wirfs – 94

3. WR Mike Evans – 91

4. ILB Lavonte David – 90

5. NT Vita Vea – 90

6. CB Jamel Dean – 86

7. WR Chris Godwin – 85

8. RB Rachaad White – 80

T-9th – QB Baker Mayfield – 79

T-9th – RT Luke Goedeke – 79

T-9th – K Chase McLaughlin – 79

10th – SS Jordan Whitehead – 78

While there is no surprise among the top five, things get interesting further down the list.

One of the first observations of this list is just how crucial it was for general manager Jason Licht and the rest of the Bucs’ front office to re-sign all of their key pieces long-term. Seven of the 12 players listed above either re-signed or signed as a free agent (although Jordan Whitehead was more of a reunion free-agent signing). In Licht’s mind, it may just be the best offseason he’s had yet under the helm, with Wirfs’ new deal being the proverbial cherry on top.

In addition, both Mike Evans and Lavonte David were given X-Factor designations as players who get special in-game abilities. Left off that list is Antoine Winfield Jr., which is shocking because his playmaking ability was on full display last season. Not only was he not made an X-Factor, but he was also rated the second-highest safety behind the Falcons’ Jessie Bates III.

It is just a case of him being snubbed – again.

For the bottom half of the list, a few players received notable increases for their performance in 2023. Rachaad White and Luke Goedeke are two notable 2022 Bucs’ draftees on the rise, while Baker Mayfield was given a notable bump up after being in the low 70s the previous year.

While Madden appears to have accurately rated many of the players, it doesn’t mean there were not some big surprises.

Biggest Surprises in Madden NFL 25 Bucs Ratings?

Surveying the rest of the roster ratings for the Bucs, I noted a few surprising things.

Yaya Diaby led the team with 7.5 sacks last year, but he is not even the highest-rated at his position. He was only rated a 73, while fellow outside linebacker Joe Tryon-Shoyinka was given a 75. With the way Diaby looked in training camp before his injury, he looks ready to take a big leap on the field and get a big ratings boost in year two.

Another thing that caught my eye was the ratings given to the Bucs’ 2024 draft class:

Bucs C Graham Barton – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

C Graham Barton – 74

OLB Chris Braswell – 71

SS Tykee Smith – 72

WR Jalen McMillan – 70

RB Bucky Irving – 72

RG Elijah Klein – 67

TE Devin Culp – 62

For his draft pedigree, Braswell’s 71 is a little low. McMillan being a 70 based on what he has done so far in training camp does not line up. Time will tell if his performance carries over to in-game action, and if so in the game he may need a noticeable bump.

Bucs CBs Zyon McCollum and Jamel Dean and CBs coach Kevin Ross – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Lastly, one final observation, and the most surprising to me, is that Zyon McCollum was only rated a 69 overall. That is a 17-point difference to Jamel Dean, while Bryce Hall (74) and Tavierre Thomas (73) also rank higher than McCollum. While I do not want to say any players should be rated lower, it should at least be a lot closer.

Especially as McCollum was the most consistent cornerback for the Bucs last season. That, combined with his elite athleticism, makes him far too low. He should be at least 5 points higher. With a big breakout season though, that could be in short order.

What do you think, Pewter People?

Did EA Sports get the Bucs’ Madden ratings right?

If not, what did they get wrong?

If you want to see them make any changes, you can call their Ratings Hotline at +1 844-623-3361 and let them know your thoughts.