Madden 18 Ratings Analysis: Linebackers

theScore's Jack Browne and Mitch Sanderson take a deep dive into the ratings from the newly released Madden 18 video game.
QB | RB | WR | TE | OL | K/P
DL | LB | DB | Rookie | Team
| Linebacker | Position | Team | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Von Miller | LOLB | Broncos | 99 |
| Luke Kuechly | MLB | Panthers | 98 |
| Khalil Mack | LOLB | Raiders | 97 |
| Justin Houston | LOLB | Chiefs | 93 |
| Bobby Wagner | MLB | Seahawks | 93 |
| Sean Lee | ROLB | Cowboys | 91 |
| Dont'a Hightower | MLB | Patriots | 89 |
| C.J. Mosley | MLB | Ravens | 89 |
| Chandler Jones | ROLB | Cardinals | 88 |
| NaVorro Bowman | MLB | 49ers | 88 |
Khalil Mack won Defensive Player of the Years honors in 2016 over fellow pass-rusher Von Miller, but it's Miller who's come out on top in Madden, earning a rare 99 rating (Tom Brady and Aaron Donald are the only other 99s at Madden 18's launch).
Sandwiched between the two edge players is perennial Madden favorite Luke Kuechly, who is by far the top-rated inside linebacker in the game - five points ahead of Bobby Wagner and one of only four players to boast a rating of 98.
The usual suspects fill out the rest of the top linebackers. Despite an injury-ravaged 2016 season, Justin Houston at 93 remains one of the best defensive players. But the pass-rusher is living off past production and arguably should be rated lower until he can truly regain the form from his 22-sack season in 2014.
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