Knee-jerk reactions to Saints’ Madden 23 ratings: Defense edition
By Kristen Wong
Saints’ Ceedy Duce, 82 OVR: Say what now?
C.J. Gardner-Johnson isn’t very happy about his Madden 23 ratings, and I can’t say I blame him. Gardner-Johnson got an 82 overall grade that ranks him in the same camp as Justin Reid, Jeremy Chinn, and Vonn Bell, to name a few.
While he may not belong in the upper echelons of the league’s strong safeties with Budda Baker and Harrison Smith, Ceedy Duce holds his own against those ranked in the high 80s like Jimmie Ward and Adrian Amos.
I should be ranked higher I cover better than any safety on this list 🤐@EAMaddenNFL check my irl stats https://t.co/2xwzJ0TF13
— Ceedy Duce. (@CGJXXIII) July 20, 2022
Year 4….. still over looked. BET
— Ceedy Duce. (@CGJXXIII) July 19, 2022
Ceedy Duce has similar numbers to Ward and Amos with three interceptions, seven passes defended, two sacks, and four quarterback hits. The only thing he lacks is their experience (Gardner-Johnson has been in the league for at least half as long as the other two) and his tackling numbers, yet Ceedy Duce is arguably more versatile with his pressures and hits on opposing quarterbacks on top of elite pass and man coverage.
I think he deserves to be up there with an 88 or 89. Add him to the list of Saints playing with a chip on their shoulder in 2022.