Madden 20 releases in less than a month, and EA just released the fourth and final member of its “99 Club”, which consists of the players with the highest possible rating in the game.

 

DEANDRE HOPKINS.

WELCOME TO THE CLUB. 😈😈😈 #99Club pic.twitter.com/DFYv7Gu26i

— The Checkdown (@thecheckdown) July 12, 2019

 

So, it’s Aaron Donald, Bobby Wagner, Khalil Mack, and DeAndre Hopkins as the four 99 overalls in Madden 20, but these ratings are off on a few levels. You could certainly make the argument for Hopkins as the best wide receiver in the NFL, but it’s a bit of a stretch to push him above his peers as a 99 overall in Madden. The same could be said for Bobby Wagner.

 

Their gameplay might have also declined over the years (though not close to as bad as Madden’s), but NBA 2K generally at least does a great job with their player ratings. Since NBA 2K10, just one non-legend player has gotten a 99-overall rating—LeBron James in 2K14, probably because he was on the cover of the game. Normally, the 99 overall is reserved for players like Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson, but Madden doesn’t go that route. Judging players on an all-time scale with less high ratings for current players, these should be the 99s in Madden 20.

 

Tom Brady

2018 wasn’t the type of season we’re used to seeing from Tom Brady statistically, and he might not improve on those numbers this season with a less experienced supporting cast and no Rob Gronkowski. But Brady is still the player almost everyone (assuming people can be unbiased) would take leading their team in a game, regardless of position. Brady’s prime continues into his 40s as he uses his TB12 Method to stay atop his game—there simply hasn’t been a drop off. Overall, the six-time Super Bowl champion has earned the 99 Club respect.

 

Aaron Donald

You could easily argue that Brady is the only player that should be a 99 overall in Madden 20 if things should be judged on an all-time scale. However, after Aaron Donald’s best season yet—with 20.5 sacks on a team that went to the Super Bowl—the two-time reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year has a legitimate case for a 99 Madden rating.

 

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Saquon Barkley

If Saquon Barkley has another season of production like his rookie campaign last year, then he might earn the 99 badge in next year’s Madden. Barkley set NFL rookie records for both scrimmage yards (2,028) and touchdowns (15), and he’s a generational talent that’s elite at every area for a running back.

 

Julio Jones

Again, DeAndre Hopkins has a case for the NFL’s best receiver; but Julio Jones apparently doesn’t get enough respect for what he’s done—and continues to do—throughout his career. As the only receiver in history with 1,400 yards in five consecutive seasons—and coming off the second-best year of his career with 1,677 yards and eight scores—Jones, who averages the most receiving yards per game in league history, is the NFL’s best at his position. Hopkins is a solid blocker, but Jones is also arguably the best blocking receiver in the game, too.

 

Patrick Mahomes

The case of Patrick Mahomes is pretty similar to Barkley, as it’ll be difficult to deny him a 99 rating if he has another historic season like he did during his first year as an NFL starter in 2018. However, as Madden 20’s cover athlete, it’s a major surprise Mahomes isn’t already one of the four 99s for this year’s game. Stats aren’t everything, but 50+ touchdown passes in a single season has been accomplished three times in NFL history, so Mahomes would be a 99-lock if he hits that mark again in 2019.

 

Khalil Mack

Make no mistake, the Bears were already stacked on defense before the arrival of Khalil Mack late last summer, but the former Raider still made a huge impact on his new team, helping ensure Chicago was a top-notch unit. Mack is a game-wrecker, but he should probably be more in the 97-rating range among all-time NFL defensive players.