Detroit Lions: T.J. Hockenson in top five of Madden 20 rookie ratings

The Detroit Lions selected a tight end with the eighth overall selection in the 2019 NFL Draft. Now Madden 20 has him rated in their rookie top five.

For many, including several fans of the Detroit Lions, the release date of the new Madden football video game is an annual event. Being the only NFL-licensed football game on the planet helps. And with the game’s release date now only a month away, the excitement is starting to build for the newest version, Madden 20.

Besides the yearly upgrades, fans of the series essentially buy the game every year for the new, incoming rookie class. And with names like quarterback Kyler Murray and defensive end Nick Bosa highlighting this talented group, is it any wonder why gamers clamor for news about their favorite yearly release.

Well, this year, there’s good news for Lions’ fans. Detroit’s first-round selection, Iowa tight end T.J. Hockenson, is among the highest rated rookies in Madden 20. Hockenson was regarded by many as being the top overall tight end prospect in his class, and possibly in years.

In the new game, the Lions’ first-year tight end has a starting overall score of 77, matching fellow rookies in Josh Allen, defensive end for the Jacksonville Jaguars, and Marquise Brown, wide receiver for the Baltimore Ravens.

Here’s an analysis by the good folks over at Electronic Arts (EA) themselves, the longtime makers of Madden, about why Hockenson is ranked so high for a rookie.

"“The Lions made moves at TE in the offseason, adding former Steelers TE Jesse James in free agency and drafting T.J. Hockenson as a top-10 selection. Hockenson is 6-foot-5 and enters Madden season with an 89 Jumping rating, so he’ll make an immediate impact in the red zone. The Iowa product is a dynamic pass-catcher known for his quickness and athleticism. He should slot in as Detroit’s TE1 out of the gate.”"

Here are the overall rookie ratings for the Lions’ entire 2019 draft class in Madden 20. (via easports.com)

T.J. Hockenson, TE – 77
Jahlani Tavai, MLB – 69
Amani Oruwariye, CB – 68
Will Harris, FS – 67
Isaac Nauta, TE – 67
Austin Bryant, LE – 66
Travis Fulgham, WR – 66
Ty Johnson, HB – 66
Malik Carney, RE – 63
Tre Lamar III, MLB – 62
PJ Johnson, DT – 62
Beau Benzschawel, RG – 60
Ryan Pope, RT – 56

The worldwide release date for Madden NFL 20 August 2, 2019. If you elect to pre-order the Superstar Edition, you’ll be able to actually play the game three days early. What do you think of the Detroit Lions’ rookie ratings? Tell us in the comment section below.