'Madden NFL 22' Ratings Breakdown: Davante Adams Joins 99 Club, Kyle Pitts Named Top Rookie

(Photo : Stacy Revere/Getty Images) GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN - JANUARY 16: Davante Adams #17 of the Green Bay Packers runs for yards after a catch during the NFC Divisional Playoff game against the Los Angeles Rams at Lambeau Field on January 16, 2021 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Packers defeated the Rams 32-18.

All 32 NFL teams are already starting their training camps this week, which means that the much-anticipated release of the popular video game Madden is just around the corner. The Madden NFL 22 season will be released worldwide on August 20, and EA Sports has decided to unveil player ratings this week to help build some momentum for the grand launch, with Davante Adams and Kyle Pitts grabbing all the headlines.

Kyle Pitts grabs highest rating among rookies

The first player ratings were released on Sunday, July 25, with NFL rookies taking center stage. To no one's surprise, Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts grabbed the highest rating among the rookies with an 81. He was followed by former Clemson Tigers and now Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence who was given a 78 rating.

Rounding out the top 10 were Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle (76), Denver Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain II (76), New York Jets quarterback Zach Wilson (75), Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (75), Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith (75), Detroit Lions offensive tackle Penei Sewell (75), San Francisco 49ers quarterback Trey Lance (74) and Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields (74).

The rookie ratings will get some gamers' attention, but the fun really starts with the release of the ratings of the real NFL stars. We got a taste of this on Monday when EA Sports released the ratings of the top wide receivers in the league.

Davante Adams enters 99 club

There's a new wide receiver at the top of the Madden rating chart for the third consecutive year, with Green Bay Packers Davante Adams entering the vaunted 99 club. Adams duly deserved this recognition after his spectacular 2020 season. He caught a career-best 115 passes last season as well as a league-best 18 touchdowns.

Adams also recorded 98.1 receiving yards per game last campaign, helping the Packers star jump five points from his launch rating in Madden 21. Adams fans certainly will be delighted with his ratings in catching (99), short route running (99) and medium route running (98) in Madden 22.

Tied for second at 98 are DeAndre Hopkins and Tyreek Hill. Hopkins flourished with the Arizona Cardinals in Kliff Kingsbury's offense, recording 115 catches and 1,407 receiving yards last season. He's still considered as one of the game's spectacular catchers, with EA Sports giving him and Odell Beckham Jr. 99 ratings in that department.

Hill may have fallen short in his Super Bowl bid last season, but he was still rewarded with a high rating in Madden 22, moving up two rating points compared to last year. Hill is the only player to score a 99-speed rating, a vital weapon in today's game. He caught 87 passes for 1,276 yards and a career-best 15 touchdowns last season, wreaking havoc alongside Patrick Mahomes in the Kansas City Chiefs offense.

Rounding out the top 10 wide receivers in Madden 22 are Buffalo Bills' Stefon Diggs (97), Tennessee Titans' Julio Jones (95), New Orleans Saints' Michael Thomas (94), Los Angeles Chargers' Keenan Allen (93), Dallas Cowboys' Amari Cooper (92), Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Mike Evans (91) and Chicago Bears' Allen Robinson II (90).

EA Sports will next release the ratings of top defensive linemen and edge rushers on July 27, running backs on July 28, safeties on July 29, and quarterbacks on July 30.