ARIZONA CARDINALS

J.J. Watt leads Arizona Cardinals’ front 7 in Madden 23 ratings

Jul 19, 2022, 5:15 PM | Updated: Jul 21, 2022, 10:14 am

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Another Arizona Cardinal was near the top of his respective position in Madden 23’s ratings released Tuesday.

After Cardinals wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins landed fourth among NFL wideouts with a 96 rating, J.J. Watt found himself at sixth among defensive ends (third among left ends) with an 87 rating.

Watt’s strength (95), awareness (93), toughness (98), impact blocking (94) and play recognition (92) were considered his strong suits.

In his first year with the Cardinals last season, Watt recorded a sack, 10 QB hits and a forced fumble over seven games played before a shoulder injury that required surgery sidelined the lineman for the rest of the regular season.

He would eventually return for the team’s NFC Wild Card matchup against the Los Angeles Rams, registering three tackles, one of which for a loss, in the defeat.

Looking at the rest of the team’s front seven, the next highest rated Cardinals are middle linebacker Isaiah Simmons and outside linebacker Markus Golden, who both garnered a 78 rating from the gaming franchise.

Simmons’ rating is highlighted by his speed (93), acceleration (93), agility (91), jumping (93), injury (93) and stamina (92).

The young linebacker’s NFL progression took another step forward in Year 2, with Simmons racking up 105 tackles, four QB hits and seven passes defensed over 17 starts, all career marks.

Golden on the other hand was much more consistent across the board for the linebacker, with Madden 23 giving Golden one rating of 90 for his ability to stay healthy.

The linebacker figures to be the team’s anchor on the outside following Chandler Jones’ departure to Las Vegas. Last season, Golden paced the team with 11 sacks to go along with 19 QB hits and 10 tackles for loss.

A look at Madden 23’s ratings for Arizona’s front seven:

Arizona Cardinals front seven Madden 23 ratings

– DE J.J. Watt — 87
– ILB Isaiah Simmons — 78
– OLB Markus Golden — 78
– OLB Devon Kennard — 74
– OLB Dennis Gardeck — 73
– ILB Zaven Collins — 73
– DE Zach Allen — 72
– DE Kingsley Keke — 70
– ILB Nick Vigil — 70
– ILB Ben Niemann — 67
– OLB Cameron Thomas — 66
– ILB Joe Walker — 66
– DE Michael Dogbe — 66
– OLB Myjai Sanders — 66
– ILB Tanner Vallejo — 66
– OLB Jesse Luketa — 63
– DE Jonathan Ledbetter — 62
– OLB Victor Dimukeje — 61
– ILB Ezekiel Turner — 56

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Arizona Cardinals CB Byron Murphy attempts a pass during minicamp on Wednesday, June 15, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals QB Kyler Murray warms up ahead of minicamp on Wednesday, June 15, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals QB Kyler Murray warms up ahead of minicamp on Wednesday, June 15, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals WR DeAndre Hopkins warms up ahead of minicamp on Wednesday, June 15, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals QB Kyler Murray jokes around ahead of minicamp on Wednesday, June 15, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals QB Kyler Murray jokes around ahead of minicamp on Wednesday, June 15, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals QB Kyler Murray warms up ahead of minicamp on Wednesday, June 15, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals S Tae Daley catches a pass during minicamp on Wednesday, June 15, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals WR Greg Dortch catches a pass during minicamp on Wednesday, June 15, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals WR Antoine Wesley looks on during minicamp on Wednesday, June 15, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals S Budda Baker catches a pass during minicamp on Wednesday, June 15, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals WR Rondale Moore runs through drills during minicamp on Wednesday, June 15, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals CB Christian Matthew catches a pass during minicamp on Wednesday, June 15, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals WR Rondale Moore runs through drills during minicamp on Wednesday, June 15, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals DL J.J. Watt runs through drills during minicamp on Wednesday, June 15, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals WR Christian Blake runs through drills during minicamp on Wednesday, June 15, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals WR Marquise Brown looks on during minicamp on Wednesday, June 15, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals WR Marquise Brown looks on during minicamp on Wednesday, June 15, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals DL J.J. Watt runs through drills during minicamp on Wednesday, June 15, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals DL J.J. Watt runs through drills during minicamp on Wednesday, June 15, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals DL J.J. Watt runs through drills during minicamp on Wednesday, June 15, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals QB Kyler Murray warms up ahead of minicamp on Tuesday, June 14, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals WR DeAndre Hopkins warms up ahead of minicamp on Tuesday, June 14, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals QB Kyler Murray warms up ahead of minicamp on Tuesday, June 14, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals QB Colt McCoy jokes around ahead of minicamp on Tuesday, June 14, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals WR DeAndre Hopkins warms up ahead of minicamp on Tuesday, June 14, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals WR DeAndre Hopkins warms up ahead of minicamp on Tuesday, June 14, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals WR DeAndre Hopkins warms up ahead of minicamp on Tuesday, June 14, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals DL Leki Fotu runs through drills during minicamp on Tuesday, June 14, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals DL Rashard Lawrence runs through drills during minicamp on Tuesday, June 14, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals DL Michael Dogbe runs through drills during minicamp on Tuesday, June 14, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals DL J.J. Watt runs through drills during minicamp on Tuesday, June 14, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals CB Marco Wilson runs through drills during minicamp on Tuesday, June 14, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals CB Marco Wilson runs through drills during minicamp on Tuesday, June 14, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals CB Antonio Hamilton runs through drills during minicamp on Tuesday, June 14, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals CB Marco Wilson runs through drills during minicamp on Tuesday, June 14, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals CB Breon Borders runs through drills during minicamp on Tuesday, June 14, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals CBs Breon Borders (21) and Byron Murphy (7) run through drills during minicamp on Tuesday, June 14, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals CBs Antonio Hamilton (33) and Jace Whittaker (39) run through drills during minicamp on Tuesday, June 14, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals CB Byron Murphy runs through drills during minicamp on Tuesday, June 14, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals CB Antonio Hamilton looks on during minicamp on Tuesday, June 14, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals CB Christian Matthew runs through drills during minicamp on Tuesday, June 14, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports) Arizona Cardinals CB Byron Murphy runs through drills during minicamp on Tuesday, June 14, 2022, in Tempe. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports)

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