It doesn’t matter how good your scheme is in Madden NFL 23, nothing is more important than the abilities of the players on the field. Whether it’s delivering bone-crushing hits, sprinting past the defense for a wide open touchdown, or making the diving interception to seize possession and momentum, having the right players beats having the best plans any day of the week. These are the best players (by overall rating) in Madden NFL 23.
Best Quarterbacks
We go more in depth in our Guide to the Best Quarterbacks in Madden 23, but it’s no surprise that Brady and Rodgers are at the top yet again. Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen are the clear heirs apparent to these future Hall of Famers. Joe Burrow, meanwhile, is riding high off of a breakout season that saw him dominate throughout the playoffs, and he has the rating to reflect it.
| Player | Overall Rating | Team |
| Tom Brady | 97 | Buccaneers |
| Aaron Rodgers | 96 | Packers |
| Patrick Mahomes | 95 | Chiefs |
| Josh Allen | 92 | Bills |
| Joe Borrow | 90 | Bengals |
Best Running Backs
Derrick Henry is on the shortlist for best player in all of Madden 23. The way his power running style combines the best stiff arm in the game with blazing fast 93 rated speed is basically a cheat code. Christian McCaffrey doesn’t bring the same thunder, but he’s the ultimate matchup nightmare as a back that can run routes and catch like a wide receiver. Chubb has the highest break tackle rating in Madden, while Taylor is the fastest of the premiere backs. Add Cook, a consistently great all around back, and you’ve got maybe the deepest position group in the game.
| Player | Overall Rating | Team |
| Derrick Henry | 97 | Titans |
| Christian McCaffrey | 96 | Panthers |
| Nick Chubb | 96 | Browns |
| Jonathan Taylor | 95 | Colts |
| Dalvin Cook | 94 | Vikings |
Best Wide Receivers
Davante Adams is in rare company as a member of the 99 club, which puts him atop this list. Still, no one can deny that Kupp, the reigning NFL Offensive Player of the Year, is deserving of at least second place after the season he had. Tyreek Hill might be the most sought-after receiver, however, due to his immaculate 99 speed, although trading that for the 99 rated leaping ability of the much taller Deandre Hopkins would not be a bad call. But none of the players mentioned above are part of QB/WR pairing like Stefon Diggs has with Josh Allen.
| Player | Overall Rating | Team |
| Davante Adams | 99 | Packers |
| Cooper Kupp | 98 | Rams |
| Tyreek Hill | 97 | Dolphins |
| Deandra Hopkins | 96 | Cardinals |
| Stefon Diggs | 95 | Bills |
Best Tight Ends
There’s Kelce and Kittle, then there’s everyone else. Once again these two stand head and shoulders above the rest, with Kelce narrowly holding on to the top spot. Andrews is technically the next best on the list, though no one would blame you for preferring Darren Waller and his 90 speed. Hockenson may not be that sort of burner, but his great hands and jumping ability make him a reliable option for moving the chains. Also, honorable mention to Kyle Pitts, who narrowly missed the top five, and will outrank all of these players after a season or two in the Connected Franchise mode.
| Player | Overall Rating | Team |
| Travis Kelce | 98 | Chiefs |
| George Kittle | 97 | 49ers |
| Mark Andrews | 93 | Ravens |
| Darren Waller | 91 | Raiders |
| T. J. Hockenson | 89 | Lions |
Best Offensive Lineman
It’s no surprise that Trent Williams is at the top, he’s been a force in the league since he arrived in 2010. The same could be said for the second player on this list, Zack Martin. Quenton Nelson and Tyron Smith share an overall rating, the former is better in power runs schemes, the latter in a zone-based offense. Bakhtiari is every bit as good as these guys at protecting the quarterback, though he is a noticeable step down as a run blocker.
| Player | Overall Rating | Team |
| Trent Willians | 99 | 49ers |
| Zack Martin | 98 | Cowboys |
| Quenton Nelson | 95 | Colts |
| Tyron Smith | 95 | Cowboys |
| David Bakhtiari | 94 | Packers |
Best Cornerbacks
Jales Ramsey at number one might be the easiest call in the game. He’s the league’s true shutdown corner, and a player you should avoid throwing towards at all costs. Alexander and White are roughly equivalent, the former specializing more in Man-coverage, the latter in Zone. Darius Slay is the most dangerous with the ball in his hands, though none of these corners are as fast as Denzel Ward and his 94 speed.
| Player | Overall Rating | Team |
| Jalen Ramsey | 98 | Rams |
| Jaire Alexander | 94 | Packers |
| Tre’Davious White | 93 | Bills |
| Darius Slay Jr | 92 | Eagles |
| Denzel Ward | 92 | Browns |
Best Defensive Linemen
Aaron Donald is the most dominant football player of the generation. For most players, like Myles Garrett, it’s a big achievement to finally begin a season with a 99 overall rating. Aaron Donald has now done it six times in a row. Nick Bosa and Cameron Hayward are proof that rushing the passer will earn you the accolades, but a special shoutout to Vita Vea, the only Defensive Tackle in the top five. He’s a dominant run stuffer, a nearly lost art in today’s NFL.
| Player | Overall Rating | Team |
| Aaron Donald | 99 | Rams |
| Myles Garrett | 99 | Browns |
| Nick Bosa | 94 | 49ers |
| Cameron Hayward | 93 | Eagles |
| Vita Vea | 93 | Buccaneers |
Best Safeties (Free Safety and Strong Safety)
It’s the year of the Strong Safety, as the top three safeties all occupy this position. Tyran Mathieu continues to be the swiss army knife of defenders, with good tackling and awareness for playing in the box, and outstanding coverage skills to play deep. Derwin James and Budda Baker are both bigger and faster, making either of them a great choice for user control. Byard is the top ranked Free Safety, and the best in zone coverage. Simmons and Hyde are tied with a 91 overall rating, Simmons’ better hands and jumping ability could lead to more interceptions for him.
| Player | Overall Rating | Team |
| Tyrann Mathieu | 94 | Saints |
| Derwin James Jr | 93 | Chargers |
| Budda Baker | 92 | Cardinals |
| Kevin Byard | 92 | Titans |
| Justin Simmons | 91 | Broncos |
| Micah Hyde | 91 | Bills |
Best Linebackers
The best linebacker really comes down to what you are looking for. T.J. Watt is a pass rushing machine and can break a game wide open. Fred Warner has outstanding awareness and acceleration, so he can erase runs and dominate crossing routes with ease. Demario Davis is a little more of a conventional run stuffer over the middle, while Khalil Mack continues his outstanding career as a dominant power rushing specialist. Lavonte David remains a great all around linebacker, but his age may make him a concern for Connected Franchise focused players.
| Player | Overall Rating | Team |
| T. J. Watt | 96 | Steelers |
| Fred Warner | 94 | 49ers |
| Demario Davis | 93 | Saints |
| Khalil Mack | 92 | Chargers |
| Lavonte David | 92 | Buccaneers |
Best Kickers
The number one kicker should be obvious to anyone who follows the NFL. There’s Justin Tucker, then everyone else. Tucker is a full 99 in both kick power and kick accuracy. Butker is the next best thing, but drops all the way to 96 and 90 in those two categories. Chris Boswell is actually the next best when it comes to kicking attributes, but Even McPherson has a slightly higher overall rating due to his greater (and useless) awareness score. Younghoe Koo is a clear downgrade from them, with a solid-but-unspectacular 92 kick power and 89 kick accuracy.
| Player | Overall Rating | Team |
| Justin Tucker | 90 | Ravens |
| Harrison Butker | 84 | Chiefs |
| Evan McPherson | 83 | Bengals |
| Chris Boswell | 82 | Steelers |
| Younghoe Koo | 82 | Falcons |
Best Punters
A.J. Cole has the best combination of kicking power and accuracy, with scores in those attributes of 93 in both. Bryan Anger rates slightly higher than Michael Dickson, despite Dickson matching him in power and beating him in accuracy. Hekker and Way both come in with an 82 overall. Way can kick it further, but don’t sleep on Hekker’s much better throwing attributes. If you are the sort that likes to run a punt fake, Hekker should be the top priority on your punter draft board.
| Player | Overall Rating | Team |
| A. J. Cole | 84 | Raiders |
| Bryan Anger | 83 | Cowboys |
| Michael Dickson | 82 | Seahawks |
| Johnny Hekker | 82 | Panthers |
| Tress Way | 82 | Commanders |
