EA Sports reveals ten highest rated safeties in Madden 24

Ahead of the full release of the EA Sports Madden NFL 24 ratings this week, the gaming company revealed the ratings for the top 10 safeties in the league heading into the 2023 season.

The rating is determined by taking the average overall score for each player based on 43 skill categories. Player ratings can change from week to week during the season based on players’ performances but the latest numbers are from 2022 season production and overall resume. A 99 rating is the top score a player can attain. For the safeties, there is no one rated a 99 this year.

Leading up to kickoff for the 2023 season, Madden’s highest-rated safety with a 95 is Los Angeles Chargers defensive back Derwin James.

James had 115 tackles with four sacks and 3.5 tackles for loss for the 10-win Chargers last year. He also had two interceptions, bringing his four-year total up to seven. A former star for Florida State, James was a first-round pick for the Chargers in 2018.

Former Miami Dolphins first-rounder Minkah Fitzpatrick comes in rated the second-highest behind Derwin James. The Steelers safety had six interceptions and a touchdown last season.

Like Fitzpatrick, Justin Simmons, rated as the third-best safety, had six interceptions in just 12 games played in 2022. He also had five in each of the last two seasons and 27 total since he joined the league in 2016.

Here’s how the rest of the ratings shook out for the NFL’s top safeties this preseason.

EA Sports Madden NFL 24’s top-rated safeties

1. Derwin James, 95 – L.A. Chargers
2. Minkah Fitzpatrick, 93 – Pittsburgh Steelers
3. Justin Simmons, 92 – Denver Broncos
4. Kevin Byard, 92 – Tennessee Titans
5. Jessie Bates III, 91 – Atlanta Falcons
6. Tyrann Matthieu, 91 – New Orleans Saints
7. Budda Baker, 90 – Arizona Cardinals
8. Jordan Poyer, 90 – Buffalo Bills
9. Harrison Smith, 90 – Minnesota Vikings
10. Micah Hyde, 89 – Buffalo Bills

The safeties ranked from 11-20 are Marcus Williams, Jamal Adams, Quandre Diggs, Jimmie Ward, Antoine Winfield, Talanoa Hufanga, Kyle Dugger, Eddie Jackson, Jevon Holland, and Chauncey Gardner-Johnson.

Although the ratings have changed since last season, the top 10 are almost identical in terms of composition. Minkah Fitzpatrick is the sole newcomer, unseating Jamal Adams. Tyrann Mathieu, who was the highest-rated safety leading into last season, is now No. 6 overall.

Micah Hyde held on to a spot in the top 10 despite missing all but two games after suffering a neck injury early in the year. Often injured as they are, very few of the highest-rated safeties played all 17 games last season.