We now know all of the ratings for Pittsburgh Steelers players in EA Sports' NFL Madden 24 video game. Friday was the final day for the overalls to be released, as quarterbacks, kickers, and punters came out. Kenny Pickett was rated as a 68 overall as a rookie in last year's version of the Madden video game. Well, they don't think he improved much over the course of the last year.
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Madden 24 doesn't seem to be buying the hype for Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett.
In Madden 24, Pickett has been given a 73 overall. He sits behind some questionable names, including Bryce Young of the Carolina Panthers and Mac Jones of the New England Patriots. Young, while he was the first overall pick in the recent 2023 NFL Draft, has yet to play a snap in the NFL. Pickett's 73 overall is tied-for-25th amongst quarterbacks with 2023 first-rounder CJ Stroud and 2022 breakout rookie Brock Purdy.
Pickett may go head-to-head with Purdy in Week 1, as the Steelers host the San Francisco 49ers at Acrisure Stadium. Purdy is recovering from an elbow injury, and there's optimism that he will be ready for the season opener. The final pick in last year's 2022 NFL Draft, the Iowa State product broke out with San Francisco last season. In fact, the Steelers could have landed him in the draft.
Instead, they drafted Chris Oladokun in the seventh round as a backup QB to Pickett. Behind Pickett, Mitch Trubisky has a 67 overall, while Mason Rudolph is way down there with a 60. Just last year, Trubisky was actually rated ahead of Pickett, as he began the year as the starter. He was a 69 overall, and Pickett had a 68 overall as a rookie. While Rudolph hasn't become the quarterback that many had hoped, the 60 overall seems a bit disrespectful.
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The Steelers wasted a seventh-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, as they released quarterback Chris Oladokun before the season even began.
Moving to the punter position, the Steelers will have a big battle during training camp between Pressley Harvin III and Braden Mann. The New York Jets released Mann back in April, which was seen as a bit of a surprising move. Shortly thereafter, the Steelers scooped up the 2020 sixth-rounder. Harvin has struggled with consistency in his first two NFL seasons in Pittsburgh.
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Based off the ratings, Madden apparently doesn't think the competition will be too close. Mann has been given a 77 overall, while Harvin slots in five notches below him with a 72 overall. Mann is actually tied-for-12th amongst punters, while Harvin is tied-for-25th. The Georgia Tech product has a lot of work to do to win the competition, as it actually seems like the former New York Jets player has a leg up on him heading to Latrobe.
Finally, the kicker's overalls were released, and Chris Boswell saw a noticeable dip in his overall rating. That's warranted, as he had the second-worst season of his career in 2022. The eight-year veteran made just 71.4% of his 28 field goal attempts, a disappointment after his phenomenal 2021 campaign. Additionally, the team just signed him to a four-year, $20 million extension.
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The Steelers will expect kicker Chris Boswell to bounce back in 2023, but he may have a new holder as Pressley Harvin III has some serious competition this summer.
Bob Labriola recently stated that he thinks Boswell may not have too much longer in Pittsburgh, especially if he struggles again in 2023. Anyways, Madden gave the kicker a 77 overall, which is tied-for-13th at his position. It's a big season for him, as he enters his ninth year with the team.
What are your thoughts on these latest release of player ratings on the Steelers? Do you think Boswell will bounce back in 2023? Who do you think will ultimately win the competition between the punters? Share your thoughts in the comment section below, yinz!
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