Madden 23 Ratings: David Montgomery leads Bears’ skill players

The Chicago Bears’ player ratings for EA Sports’ Madden 23 are trickling in, and I have a few thoughts. Before I get started, it’s important to acknowledge that, yes, this is only a video game. And a game developer’s opinion of this roster is just that — an opinion.

But it is fun to take a look at what this year’s Bears squad will be like in Madden. Any writer or sarcastic beat reporter who suggests otherwise simply doesn’t get it.

Wide receivers, linebackers, running backs, tight ends, safeties, and edge rushers have been revealed so far. Let’s dive in.

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Roquan Smith has the Chicago Bears’ highest player rating (89 overall)

This seems fair, doesn’t it? Smith is the Bears’ best all-around football player, after all. The 25-year-old former first-round pick is entering the final year of his rookie contract, and there’s been no indication that a new deal is on the horizon. Smith could reset the inside linebacker market with his next contract, which at his age, won’t be his last. Smith set a career-high in tackles in 2021 and should flourish under new head coach Matt Eberflus and his defensive scheme.

Photo: Kirby Lee , USA TODAY Sports

David Montgomery is Bears’ highest-rated player on offense (84 overall)

The developers at Madden 23 believe in Montgomery this season. His rating places him just outside the top 15 running backs, and while Bears fans would argue that Montgomery should be ranked higher than that, the truth is he needs to have a big year to justify those fan opinions. He’ll get every opportunity to prove he warrants more respect in Luke Getsy’s offense in 2022, one that will lean heavily on Montgomery and the running game. (Note: Quarterbacks will be revealed later this week).

Photo: Jon Durr, USA TODAY Sports

Bears only have three players with an 80 or higher (so far)

Safety Eddie Jackson joins Smith and Montgomery with a rating in the 80s. Wide receiver Darnell Mooney comes closest with a 79, followed by kicker Cairo Santos — yes, the kicker — at a 77. From there, wide receiver Byron Pringle’s 75 begins a run of 12 Chicago Bears players with ratings in the 70s. Good luck winning with this team early in your Madden 23 franchises.

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Cole Kmet’s rating places him among the league’s backups

Tight end Cole Kmet checks in with a modest 75 rating from Madden 23. That ranks him tied for 29th with players like Buffalo Bills reclamation project, O.J. Howard. Hayden Hurst (Cincinnati Bengals) and Maxx Williams (Arizona Cardinals) have a higher rating despite Kmet out-producing both of them by a wide margin in 2021. Kmet finished the 2021 season with a career-high 60 catches for 612 yards. His yardage total was good for 10th among all tight ends. Hurst, meanwhile, recorded just 26 catches for 221 yards and three scores in 13 games. Kmet deserves better.