The ratings for the wide receivers and safeties in Madden NFL 25 were revealed on Monday, and EA Sports did George Pickens pretty dirty with an 83 overall rating. Tied for 33rd-best in the NFL among wide receivers.
In the game, Pickens has a 91 speed rating, a 61 strength, 90 agility, 96 jump, 85 injury prevention, 86 stamina, and 91 spectacular catch.
Earlier this week, George Pickens blasted EA Sports about his Madden rating on Instagram.
“Aye @eamaddennfl. You air producing bad gaming 83 is wild,” Pickens wrote in an Instagram Story post.
Pickens added more commentary about the matter during an interview with Prospect Media at training camp.
“When I seen that, I was like, ‘Oh my God, the league is playing with me.’ They really playing with me,” Pickens said about his 83 overall rating. “I got no abilities. X-factor I feel like comes at 90 overall type. But no abilities, no superstar? 91 speed, I’m really like 94 speed.”
George Pickens RESPONDS to his @EAMaddenNFL RATING 😳 Do you AGREE with 83 OVR? 👀🤔 pic.twitter.com/QDcZdYSjBl
— Prospect Media (@prospectmedia_) August 2, 2024
Pickens said his spectacular catch should be 99. With some of the ridiculous catches that he makes, like the one-hand grab against Cleveland during his rookie year, it’s hard to disagree.
“They gonna up it this year, though. As we get it playing they got to up my rating,” Pickens said.
Pickens thinks he’ll have a 91 overall rating and be an X-Factor by the end of the season.
With Arthur Smith as the Steelers’ new offensive coordinator and Russell Wilson/Justin Fields at quarterback, this could be the year where Pickens truly breaks out and solidifies himself as one of the best wide receivers in the league.
Pickens caught 52 passes for 801 yards and four scores in his rookie season in 2022. Last season, he elevated his game with 63 receptions for 1,140 yards and five touchdowns. Pickens’ 18.1 average per reception led the league last season.
Pickens has worked on adding to his game as a route runner and diversifying his route tree in game situations this offseason. It’s also expected that he’ll get more work in the slot.
“I worked on quicker routes,” Pickens said. “You know, I feel like I’m already dominant at the line, so it’s about getting quicker, really.”
Pickens has looked great at training camp. If all the pieces fall together, he could make an All-Pro leap this year.