The Denver Broncos have a young, talented football team that honestly just needs to gain experience and stay healthy. Many people believe that they could be a playoff team if and when those two things come together. The Madden franchise has released their initial ratings for the Madden 22 video game, and the Broncos have a few players who made big strides from 2020 to their 2021 prediction in terms of ratings.
They’ve added key pieces on both sides of the football, and have brought back some players who some would not have predicted would be a big part of the team even as recently as before the 2020 season.
That includes the first player on this list—a guy who has generated so much criticism and hate during the first three years of his career before turning it around.
Without further ado, here’s the first player on the list—and the player who has the biggest rating increases from last season.
Garett Bolles 69 to 84 (+15)
We start off with the man, the myth, the legend… Garett Bolles.
Yes, that Garett Bolles. The same guy who struggled for the first several years of his career before showing massive improvements in 2020. The X-Factor in Bolles’ jump has been offensive line coach Mike Munchak, who has made a hall of fame career out of playing the position. He truly should be a Hall of Fame coach, too.
Bolles is listed as the ninth-highest rated left tackle in the Madden 22 video game. At 84 overall, it just goes to show that there are so many great left tackles in the NFL. But I’m willing to bet that there are very few players, if any, that made such a big jump in overall rating from the beginning of last season’s game.
Bolles’ awareness at the beginning of last year’s game was a measly 66 overall. At the start of Madden 22, it jumped all the way up to a 93, which matches with his overall ranking of ninth. Awareness appears to be the biggest factor in a player’s overall rating.
From Garett Holds to Garett Bolles the second-team All-Pro.
Bolles’ strength rating did not move this year. He was given a 90 rating last year, and it remains the same. That’s a little bit surprising. Madden 22 also kept Bolles’ stamina at a solid 93 overall.
Run Block Power: 75 to 82 overall
Pass Block Power: 69 to 85 overall
Run Block Finesse: 69 to 83 overall
Pass Block Finesse: 69 to 86 overall
Lead Blocking: 88 to 90 overall
That‘s an average increase of 11.2 points overall in those five categories. Find me a more improved player. I’ll wait.