Madden '17 "Top" Ratings (by Position)

EA Sports' Madden '17 Player Ratings are slowly trickling out in the forms of "best by position" lists daily on the EA site.  Below we will track and list players on 3-Guys rosters (as well as the New England Patriots) in anticipation of the August 23 release date.

ROOKIES
#1 CB Jalen Ramsey (82) - New York Jets

QUARTERBACKS
#1 Aaron Rodgers (96) - Buffalo Bills
#3 Tom Brady (94) - New England Patriots

OFFENSIVE LINEMAN
#3 Marshal Yanda (97) - New York Jets
#5 Zack Martin (92) - New York Jets
#8 Travis Frederick (91) - New York Jets
#9 TJ Lang (91) - Buffalo Bills
#10 Josh Sitton (91) - Buffalo Bills

DEFENSIVE TACKLES
#1 Aaron Donald (98) - New York Jets
#2 Geno Atkins (94) - Buffalo Bills
#5 Kawann Short (92) - New York Jets

TIGHT ENDS
#1 Rob Gronkowski (99) - New England Patriots

OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS
#3 Khalil Mack (94) - Miami Dolphins
#5 Dont'a Hightower (90) - New England Patriots

MIDDLE LINEBACKERS
#1 Luke Kuechly (99) - Buffalo Bills
#2 Brandon Marshall (90) - New York Jets
#4 Bobby Wagner (88) - Miami Dolphins
#5 Jamie Collins (88) - New England Patriots

STRONG SAFETIES
#2 Kam Chancellor (91) - New York Jets
#3 Patrick Chung (86) - Buffalo Bills

FREE SAFETIES
#4 Earl Thomas (93) - Miami Dolphins

KICKERS
#3 Stephen Gostkowski (85) - New England Patriots

TEAM TOTALS
NEW YORK: 8
BUFFALO: 6
NEW ENGLAND: 5
MIAMI: 3

Press Release: WR Devin Funchess to Miami for Multiple Draft Picks

Wide Receiver Devin Funchess found himself as the odd man out in Buffalo after the team's trade to acquire wide receiver Amari Cooper from the Oakland Raiders.
The Bills sent the second year player to their division rivals in Miami for a pair of 2017 draft picks (3rd & 5th rounders).
Funchess will be an immediate upgrade for the Dolphins and should start alongside Jeremy Kerley on the outside.
Miami has utilized pieces acquired in their trade of Marcell Dareus to secure the services of quarterback Jacoby Brissett, cornerback Xavier Rhodes, and now Funchess (along with still owning an extra 3rd round selection in the 2018 NFL Draft. 

Breaking: Nelson Fails Physical with Buffalo; Blockbuster with Oakland Confirmed

• By Scoops Caligiri
• Near The NFL Writer
• Published: July 15, 2016 at 2:22 p.m.
• Updated: July 15, 2016 at 04:00 p.m.
• 
  

The Buffalo Bills are doubling down on their attempt to find themselves a true number one receiving option for quarterback Aaron Rodgers after 31-year old Jordy Nelson failed the team's physical earlier this afternoon.
Rex Ryan and company gave the go ahead for the team to send their first round pick in 2017 and 2018 along with wide receiver Mohamed Sanu to the Oakland Raiders for up-and-coming superstar Amari Cooper.
The 22-year old Alabama product was just as shocked as the rest of the sports world to hear of the news.

@AmariCooper9: Agent just told me it is real. I am sorry @RaiderNation, gotta represent for @BillsMafia now

Trading for Nelson and giving up a first round pick was a steep price to pay to try to win the championship in 2017. Now, spending an additional first rounder on Cooper may seem foolish at face value, but Cooper's speed, skill, and youth give the Bills, and most importantly Rodgers, a top-5 receiving option for the next 7-plus years. 
"I could do without the drama," Rodgers said. "I really liked the Jordy move, but these things change. Amari is an absolute superstar in the making. My job is to help him become a champion too."

Wheelin' & Dealin' in the AFC East

• By Scoops Caligiri
• Near The NFL Writer
• Published: July 15, 2016 at 2:22 p.m.
• Updated: July 15, 2016 at 04:00 p.m.
• 
  

Three trades occurred on this relatively normal Friday afternoon that not only solidified the AFC East as the NFL's toughest division but also its most ambitious.
First, the New York Jets made an aggressive move to pick up Vic Beasley from the Atlanta Falcons for their 2017 2nd round pick and OLB Bud Dupree. Coach Todd Bowles has been raving about the fast and explosive Beasly since coaching the Clemson product at the 2015 Senior Bowl.
"I am through the roof," Bowles said. "To me, he has the potential to be defensive player of the year right now. This is amazing for our team."
Moments later, Rex Ryan declared that his team is officially in 'win-now' mode by acquiring 31-year old wide-receiver Jordy Nelson from the Green Bay Packers in exchange for their 2017 1st round pick and wide-receiver Mohamed Sanu. 
Nelson, coming off a torn ACL, should be an explosive weapon for Aaron Rodgers.
"I met him today and it's like we've been together for years," Rodgers said. "The chemistry is palpable and it will be fun to work with him."
Not to be left out, the New England Patriots and Miami Dolphins collaborated to send newly drafted Jacoby Brissett (2016 3rd round compensatory selection) and a 2017 6th round pick to the Dolphins for a 2017 second round pick.
With Matt Moore firmly entrenched as Tom Brady's backup, head coach Bill Belichick is betting on Moore to get the team through the upcoming 4-game suspension for Brady to start 2016.
"The plan was to groom Jacoby (Brissett) for the future," Belichick said. "But they (Miami) are high on him too. We can address our long-term quarterback plans in the future and use this 2nd round to help our team next moving forward."

Marcell Dareus Headed to SD in Puzzling Move

• By Scoops Caligiri
• Near The NFL Writer
• Published: July 6, 2016 at 7:42 p.m.
• Updated: July 6, 2016 at 08:47 p.m.
• 
  

A year after locking up who they then called their "franchise stalwart," the Miami Dolphins have traded pro bowl defensive tackle Marcell Dareus to the San Diego Chargers.
The rare summertime blockbuster has the defending champs sending Dareus along with middle linebacker Manti Te'o to America's Finest City for cornerback Xavier Rhodes, a 2017 2nd round pick, a 2017 3rd round pick, and a 2018 3rd round pick.
"I'm shocked and a little bit pissed off to be honest," Dareus said. "But I don't want to be here if I'm not wanted. I'm ready to try to get Philip (Rivers) a ring."
On the surface the move seems a bit perplexing, but if you dig a bit deeper into Miami's future, there may be some logic behind what seems like a move better saved for the Marlins across town.
With Khalil Mack, Star Lotulelei, & Leonard Williams all set to require large contract extensions by 2018, Dareus found himself on the outside looking in as Adam Gase took the reigns in Miami. 
Despite the success running the football a year ago behind Kelechi Osemele (who was just resigned to a 58.5 million dollar contract extension) and Trai Turner (who is also on a rookie deal through 2018), the offense is a mess and eventually the team will want to either draft or sign a long-term solution at quarterback; it's also nice to have capable players to catch the football as well, but let's not get ahead of ourselves.
"We want to build through the draft," Gase said. "This gives us some leverage moving forward while allowing us to lock up the core of our defense in the coming years."
Kevin Brown, Bobby Bonilla, and Gary Sheffield could not be reached for comment.