Most pass rushers in the NFL are not household names. Except for Chase Young, most people will not recognize the players on this list. However, their notoriety does not take away from the immense impact defensive ends have in every game. Pass rush is just as important inMadden 21as it is in real life. One sack, fumble, PBU, or TFL can win or lose a game. The few players that manage to appear in the stat sheet areupgraded inMadden 21after each impressive performance.
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What a lot of fans do not realize is defensive linemen can can influence the offense without even showing up on the stat sheet. Sometimes controlling a double team is just as important as a pick six. The below ten players proved that they deserved a higher rating inMadden 21by dominating last season.
10Chase Young 80-85
Young was given the highest ranking among 2020 rookies. The freak of nature managed to receive several upgrades last season despite beginning his career as an 80 rated card. The Washington Football team had a rocky season, but the do it all defensive end tried his best to keep them in games.
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Alongside Justin Jefferson, Young was one of two rookiesinvited to the Pro Bowlafter last season. Young’s strength and raw talent allowed him to net 7.5 sacks and 40+ tackles on the year. Even thebest offensive linemen in the NFLstruggled to contain the star.
9Aldon Smith 71-77
In 2012, Smith recorded 19.5 sacks, marking the best year of his career. After a hit and run accident, the NFL suspended Smith for the entirety of the 2016 and 2017 seasons. It was not until 2020 that Smith was able to be reinstated and play in the NFL once again after a four year hiatus. Smith proved to be one of thekey pieces for the Cowboys, with 47 combined tackles and 5 sacks. The road back to the NFL was a long one, but it is good to see Smith back on the field eight years after a record setting season.
8Trey Hendrickson 74-80
Hendrickson saw an increased role in 2020 that allowed the end to have multiple two sack performances on the year. The fourth year player is now heavy in the Saints rotation and has improved to 80 for the first time in his NFL career. Hendrickson’s speed and size make him a force to be reckoned with on the edge. He is not afraid to chirp at the big names either.
7Quinnen Williams 78-84
Following a sub par rookie year, Williams put up some impressive numbers in 2020. The Jets DE racked up seven sacks, 55 total tackles, and three pass deflections. Unfortunately, Williams suffered an injury in late December and was unable to finish out the final games of the season. With another couple of sacks, the second year player may have made the Pro Bowl.
6Montez Sweat 76-82
Most people will recognize Sweat from his appearances in the Old Spice commercials that began airing in 2019. Commercial success has translated to success on the field for Sweat. The Washington pass rusher was able to get a total of 9 sacks and 12 tackles for loss on the year. The duo of Sweat and Young will be lethal for Washington in the coming years.
5Emmanuel Ogbah 75-82
Ogbah had a return to form in 2019 and 2020 after a foot injury took him away from the game for over a year. His best moment last season came in the week 9 Cardinals game where Ogbah’s strip resulted in a touchdown to seal the game. Ogbah made a number of timely plays last season to help secure victories, and had a career year in 2020. The fifth year rusher netted nine sacks in 12 starts for the Dolphins.
4Brian Burns 79-87
EA decided to give Burns a disrespectful rating of just 79 after a 7.5 sack rookie season. After a 9 sack campaign, EA had no choice but to boost the Panther’s rating to 87, a +8 increase. Burns also forced 3 fumbles and managed to get 58 combined tackles. In his second year, Burns showed why he is much better than a seventh round pick.
3Romeo Okwara 71-79
In just one season, Okwara recorded more sacks than the previous four seasons he was in the NFL. It is surprising that he is only 79 rated after getting 10 sacks, a safety, and one forced fumble. Surely, EA will give the Lions DE a more reasonable ratingnext year inMadden 22. Okwara should have been the most improved player in this list.
2Kingsley Keke 65-74
As the 150th pick, Keke probably did not think he would be a rotation player in year two with the Packers. Keke was finally able to get his first sack in week 3 of his second season.
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He followed up consistent play by netting four sacks and 19 tackles on the year. While the stats do not jump off the page like many of the other defensive ends on this list, Keke made good progress last season and deserves a rating in the 70s.
1John Franklin-Myers 67-77
Franklin-Myers only started 2 games in 2020, but managed to get 3 sacks on the season. In his second year in the league, Franklin-Myers was at least able to carve out a role in the line rotation. With a few more opportunities, the massive defensive end should be able to put up better numbers going forward. Expect an even higher ratedMadden 22cardat the beginning of next season.
