New faces among highest rated Carolina Panthers in Madden 20
Two new Carolina Panthers rank among the top-five on the team in Madden NFL 20.
Even without playing a down of live football in 2019, by all accounts general manager Marty Hurney’s improvements to the Carolina Panthers have been well received. Obvious attempts to improve the pass rush and protect quarterback Cam Newton were made and some of the new faces are already being recognized as key additions.
Every NFL season is preceded by the release of Madden – a staple in the video game world and it provides fans and players alike a glimpse into the upcoming season. One of the topics most discussed surrounding the game’s release are player ratings. A handful received the highest 99 rating but no Panthers found themselves on this list.
Instead, the highest rated member of the Panthers roster was linebacker Luke Kuechly (Overall 98) followed by three offensive and one of the new defensive additions. In fact, Carolina has two brand new players among their top-five rated, adding to the case that Hurney improved the Panthers this offseason.
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Joining Kuechly on defense is tackle Gerald McCoy (Overall 86), the fifth highest rated player with Christian McCaffrey (Overall 91), tight end Greg Olsen (Overall 89) and center Matt Paradis (Overall 88) between them.
Paradis replaces long-time center Ryan Kalil, who retired this offseason, and was somewhat of a surprise addition early in the free agent signing process. Recovering from a lower leg injury, if Paradis returns to form he is expected to be a solid addition up front for Carolina – allowing for a smooth transition in what could have been a problem area.
While it is a bit surprising Newton himself isn’t ranked among the top-five players, he registered with an 84, it does go to show the strength of Carolina and especially the quality of free agents that were targeted to help improve the team.
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After a hot start last year, hopefully these new players can help the Panthers maintain their momentum for a full season and return to the playoffs this year.