Today marks the worldwide launch of Madden 27.Â
When Buccaneers fans log on for the first time, they’ll notice some of their favorite players having lower ratings than they might have expected.Â
Luckily, Madden ratings are never set in stone. Players can have their ratings boosted based on how they perform in real life every Sunday. If the Bucs’ ratings are going up, it likely means the team is playing well. With that being said, here are five players who are most likely to outplay their ratings and put the game developers to work throughout the season.Â
5 Tampa Bay Buccaneers who will command a Madden ratings boostÂ
Baker Mayfield - 83 overallÂ
Mayfield begins this Madden season with an 83 overall rating, placing him as the 15th-best quarterback in the game.Â
Mayfield has been elite at times during his three seasons in Tampa Bay. He’s also been one of the NFL’s most productive quarterbacks, ranking third in passing yards and second in passing touchdowns since 2023.
If he can continue to produce at an elite level, and consistently perform at the level he played during his MVP-caliber first half of last season, Mayfield will be the first in line for a ratings bump.Â
Jacob Parrish - 79 overallÂ
Parrish enters the season at just 79 overall, and he’s one of the most obvious candidates for a ratings boost.Â
Parrish is expected to be Tampa Bay’s starting outside cornerback, and there’s a legitimate argument he was the team’s best corner as a rookie last season. He has been impressive throughout training camp and looks poised for another strong season. He’s flying under the radar for now, which explains his low rating, but Parrish could earn respect as one of the NFL’s most promising young cornerbacks by season’s end.Â
Tykee Smith - 79 overallÂ
Smith had an incredible 2025 season, and Todd Bowles even stated that he was the team’s best defensive player prior to his shoulder injury.
Smith recorded 100 total tackles, two sacks, an interception and 13 passes defensed. Another season like that and he’ll start to separate himself as one of the league’s top safeties, and his current 79 overall rating will look laughably low.
Chase McLaughlin - 78 overall
McLaughlin enters Madden 27 with a 78 overall rating. That ties him for the 12th-highest-rated kicker.Â
McLaughlin has made 90% of his field goals over the last three seasons, and was the NFL’s best kicker from 50+ yards last year, going 11-12.
His 11 consecutive kicks made from 50+ yards set a single-season record, and he even set a (since-broken) record for the longest outdoor field goal in NFL history from 65 yards out. Â
McLaughlin deserves to be grouped among the NFL’s elite kickers, and if he builds on last year’s success, he’ll have his rating boosted in no time.Â
Calijah Kancey - 76 overallÂ
Kancey truly has the potential to be one of the NFL’s best interior defenders. He’s arguably been Tampa Bay’s most disruptive defensive player when healthy — he just simply hasn’t been healthy enough.Â
Kancey has repeatedly stated that his goal for this season is to play all 17 games for the first time in his career. If he can do that and consistently play at the level he’s shown flashes of, he’ll earn an elite 85+ rating by next year’s Madden release.
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