Madden 21: Michael Thomas, Stephon Gilmore round out the 99 Club
Michael Thomas and Stephon Gilmore will be rated 99 overall in Madden 21 at launch.
Closing out Madden Ratings Week, EA revealed the final two members of the Madden 21 99 Club. Joining Patrick Mahomes, Christian McCaffrey and Aaron Donald with a game-perfect 99 overall rating are New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas and New England Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore.
The addition of both of these players to Madden’s 99 Club shouldn’t come as much of a surprise as both are considered among the best at their respective positions. For two years in a row, Thomas has led the league in receptions. Last season, Thomas hauled in 149 receptions for a league-high 1,725 receiving yards while tallying nine touchdowns. The closest player in receptions was Christian McCaffrey, who is also rated 99 in Madden 21, with 116 catches. In 2018, Thomas also led the league in catches with 125 for 1,405 yards.
On the other side of the ball, we have Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore. To be a true shutdown corner in a league that has tweaked the rules to encourage more offense is a testament to Gilmore’s skill. As SportsCenter pointed out, Gilmore defended 20 passes last year, which was most int he NFL. He was also tied for most interceptions in the league with six.
Stephon Gilmore last season:
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) July 16, 2020
• 20 passes defended (most in NFL)
• Six interceptions (tied for most in NFL)
Now he's in the 99 Club. #Madden21 @eamaddennfl pic.twitter.com/aKKIwsUjuc
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Compared to their respective positions, Thomas may be the only receiver rated 99 in Madden 21, but there’s a chance he could have some company. DeAndre Hopkins will begin the year at a 98 overall with Julio Jones right behind him at 97 overall. Michael Thomas doesn’t flash much speed with only an 89 rating but he’s got 99 awareness and 99 catching, so he’s about as sure of a thing as you can get. Speaking of speed, Tyreek Hill is the fastest in the game with 99 speed, followed by Henry Ruggs III with 98.
For cornerbacks, there’s a bit of a drop off between Gilmore and the rest of the group. Jalen Ramsey is the second-best-rated corner in the game with a 94 overall, followed by Richard Sherman at 92 overall. Gilmore and Sherman are both tied with a game-perfect 99 awareness, so good luck throwing the ball in their direction.
Thomas and Gilmore round out the Madden 21 99 Club but with weekly rating adjustments, this could change throughout the season. What do you think of the five players rated 99 in Madden 21?