Paxton Lynch hasn’t played an NFL snap, but he was still given a 74 overall rating in America’s favorite video game, Madden NFL.
Madden NFL 17 just released their top ratings for this year’s rookie draft class, and Jacksonville Jaguars safety Jalen Ramsey lead the way with a ranking of 82. Two points lower was former Ohio State Buckeye standout and current Dallas Cowboy Ezekiel Elliot, who came in second.
The two quarterbacks who were taken before Lynch, Jared Goff (No. 1 overall) and Carson Wentz (No. 2 overall) both received 77 ratings, three points higher than Lynch.
Madden is just a video game, but the ratings could tell us a lot about the expectations we have for most of the top-drafted rookies. For Lynch, the NFL world expects him to be average — maybe a little better than average — over the course of the regular season. Ramsey, on the other hand, is expected to come out of the gate firing and start producing quickly in the Jaguars secondary.
The highest rated receiver was Corey Coleman (78) out of Baylor, the Cleveland Browns first round draft pick.
Runnings backs weren’t so lucky this year, though. After Elliot, the highest-rated running back was C.J. Prosise (74), the Seattle Seahawks’ third-round selection.
Other notables included in Top 10 rookie ratings:
Tampa Bay Buccaneers kicker Roberto Aguayo (79)
San Diego Chargers defensive end Joey Bosa (78)
San Diego Chargers tight end Hunter Henry (78)
Baltimore Ravens left tackle Ronnie Stanley (79)
Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Myles Jack (76)
Dallas Cowboys linebacker Jaylon Smith (76)