Madden delivers weirdest rating yet to Commanders breakout star

Madden ratings are often a contentious issue among gamers and football fans alike. They rise and fall based on performances throughout the season, but nobody is ever truly satisfied for one reason or another.

That proved to be the case for one Washington Commanders standout who was given a weird yet motivating initial rating by Madden's game developers.

There weren't many more impressive players on the Commanders last season than Frankie Luvu. The dynamic linebacker spurned an extension with the Carolina Panthers to join head coach Dan Quinn's ambitious project. He thought linking up with the defensive guru could take his game to new heights. The undrafted free agent was correct in his assessment.

Frankie Luvu's sensational first Commanders season wasn't enough for high Madden rating

Luvu took the league by storm. He formed an exceptional partnership with Bobby Wagner that drove the Commanders to better things on and off the field. They both earned second-team All-Pro honors as a result of their efforts, and there were arguably no more important arrivals in Washington aside from quarterback sensation Jayden Daniels.

And yet, Luvu's exceptional contribution wasn't exactly recognized by his overall Madden rating of 80. That seemed weirdly low for one of the league's ascending linebackers with his best football ahead.

Luvu won't be overly concerned about it. He's more focused on helping the Commanders go one better this season and reach the Super Bowl. General manager Adam Peters made some impressive acquisitions across the defense during his second recruitment period at the helm. But for Joe Whitt Jr.'s unit to make the required strides, the Washington State product needs to be fit and firing on all cylinders throughout.

There's nothing to suggest Luvu isn't more than capable of achieving this objective. He's a feared second-level enforcer, and having Wagner around for another season is only going to help. And with 2026 being a contract year for the player, he could make himself a ton of money along the way in 2025.

If Luvu takes another surge forward this season, he can expect his Madden rating to follow suit.