Madden 27 is nearly out, and the 2026 Buckeyes' rookies are all at the top of the list of ratings.
The 2026 Ohio State rookies are heading into their first NFL season, and nearly all of them are going to be impactful players on all of their new teams.
The release of Madden 27 is nearly here, and the list of Rookie Ratings is out, and the Buckeyes are all over the top of the list.
Caleb Downs is tied at the top of the list as the highest-rated rookie with an 82 overall rating, along with Arizona Cardinals running back Jeremiyah Love.
Linebackers Arvell Reese checks in with a 79 overall rating, which is the third highest among rookies, and Sonny Styles is one slot below him with a 78 overall. The first Buckeye off the board, Carnell Tate, is the fourth-highest rated at 77 overall.
The rest of the Buckeyes slot in as follows:
- DT Kayden McDonald - 75
- CB Davison Igbinosun - 74
- DE Caden Curry - 73
In total, seven of the 11 drafted Buckeyes are in the Top-100 of the highest rated rookies, and all seven of those slot in the Top 75 in the entire draft class.
This is hardly a surprise for anyone, as it was widely known that the Buckeyes had some of the best players available for the last NFL Draft. The only question was where they would get selected.
Tate being the first one off the board did catch everyone by surprise, but as everyone predicted, the top four Buckeyes going in the top 12 came true.
Caleb Downs as the top-rated player who was drafted is something that absolutely checks out. The select few people who have watched him play over the past couple of years know what he brings to the table.
He was the smartest player on the field; he was a coach in the secondary, and then when the play started, he was the best athlete on the field. He was faster than the opponent, stronger, quicker, and way more physical than the guys he was going against.
This overall reality just goes to show exactly what Ohio State is. It is an NFL skill factory. The players that are produced in Columbus, Ohio, are second to none, and it has been that way for the past decade.
Ohio State produces some of the best football players available, and the 2026 draft class was no different.
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