Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Jaylen Watson is on a mission this offseason, and it's not just about his free agency status-it's about earning some respect in the digital realm. Despite his accomplishments on the field, Watson's Madden rating has him feeling a bit slighted.
Watson opened up to NFL insider Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports about his frustration with his consistent 79 rating in the popular video game. “I don't really play Madden because my rating has been the same since I was a rookie,” Watson shared.
“They had a running back as a one and I'm getting burnt by the running back. I'm like ‘What is going on?'
And I stopped playing.”
While he did see a bump from his initial 73 rating as a rookie, Watson has yet to break the 80 mark in Madden. But on the field, he's been anything but average.
Under the guidance of Andy Reid, Watson has evolved from a junior college prospect at Ventura College to a seventh-round pick from Washington State, and now, a two-time Super Bowl champion. Last season, he delivered career-best performances, starting in 15 regular season games and racking up 64 tackles, 42 of them solo.
He also notched three tackles for a loss and two interceptions. Standing at 6-foot-2, Watson is one of the few defenders to break up six passes in his first four seasons.
“He’s long, he’s competitive at the catch point, and he has the temperament for press-man reps,” noted Antunes.
As Watson explores his next move, cornerback-needy teams like the Los Angeles Rams, Minnesota Vikings, Dallas Cowboys, and even the rival Las Vegas Raiders might come calling. And perhaps EA Sports will take another look at his rating while he's at it.