Submitted on: 05/16/2014 by
Jayson Young
The NFL offseason is highlighted each spring by the NFL Draft, and now that we're beyond it -- assessing each team and how they are going to be affected by the various moves made on draft day is now the name of the game for NFL fans.
As long anticipated, Jadeveon Clowney was selected as the top overall draft pick. As perhaps (not fully) expected, Johnny Manziel fell to the bottom third of the first round. And everything in between? A few shockers, some solid picks, and some futures made just a little bit brighter.
But not every team can have a great draft and not every franchise is guaranteed a spot at the playoff table -- someone has to lose the draft and eventually lose on the field as well. When it comes to Madden, the game tends to unfairly weigh position/skill players over all others -- so with that in mind, which franchise will see more users than ever playing with them heading into Madden NFL 15?
Jayson Young: Cleveland would be the obvious winner if wide receiver Josh Gordon was not facing a season-long suspension for failing a drug test. Assuming his suspension doesn't get reduced, I'd guess that Madden NFL 15 will treat Gordon like Aaron Hernandez and just leave him off the disc entirely. If Gordon is playable, then the Browns get my pick, thanks to Johnny Manziel's arm and legs. Manziel's off-the-field antics and small size (6'0", 207 pounds) aren't issues in Madden, so he will instantly become one of the game's best quarterbacks.
If Josh Gordon is missing from Madden NFL 15, then I'd vote for the Jacksonville Jaguars, who added a skilled quarterback plus two talented wide receivers with their first three selections.
In real life, Jacksonville likely made a mistake by passing over playmaking linebacker, Khalil Mack. But in Madden, quarterbacks and wide receivers have always been more important to winning than defenders or linemen.
Matthew Coe: For me it's a toss up between Houston and Minnesota. Both teams got a speedy pass rusher and both teams got a new QB. If Madden 15 continues the Madden tradition of having speed be the most dominant attribute, Clowney is gonna wreck people with J.J. Watt on the same team. I don't know where Tiburon will rate Tom Savage but he'll likely be as good as any QB Houston has, barring a trade between now and August. Remember, this team still has Arian Foster and Andre Johnson, and Madden always slightly overrates big name skill position players.
In the case of Minneosta, Anthony Barr is the speedy pass rusher and Teddy Bridgewater is the new QB who some fans can't wait to try out (other than Manziel of course). You add Bridgewater to Adrian Peterson, the lightning fast Corderelle Patterson, and TE Kyle Rudolph and you've got the makings of a really good team in Madden 15.
I think other teams may have had equal or even better drafts, but until I see proof that Madden intends to make offensive linemen (33 selected in this year's draft alone) and defensive backs (53 selected in the 2014 NFL draft) as important as they are in the real NFL, I'll continue to consider offensive skill positions and fast players the most important in Madden 15.
Cleveland will obviously get a boost in online usage. That's what happens Johnny Manziel ends up a Brown.
Chris Sanner: It's not a stretch to believe that with the increased emphasis on the game, there's a chance big time pass rushers could become must-play destinations in Madden. With that in mind, Jadeveon Clowney at Houston is a huge pick-up as you will likely find many players using the (expected) new moves and rush controls with the dynamic and likely somewhat overpowered rookie. With that alone in mind Houston has to be considered one of the top draft classes coming into Madden, despite the rest of the class being the less 'sexy' Madden positions like Tight End, Running Back, and Fullback.
The other obvious answer is Manziel in Cleveland. His size won't matter in Madden as much, and so long as his ratings are translated well into Madden (fast QB) -- he will likely be dynamite to many players. It will be very interesting to see how Manziel's ratings fluctuate throughout the 2014 NFL campaign.
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