Madden 19: Detroit Lions Player Ratings, Roster, Depth Chart & Playbooks

By Toby DurantSports Group Manager

The Detroit Lions have long been at the foot of the NFC North. While the Packers and Bears have storied histories and the Vikings have tales of heart-break, the Lions have failure in their history. They haven't made a Super Bowl since the merger, with their last NFL championship coming in 1957. They haven't won the NFC North, their last divisional title came in 1993, and their last playoff win was in January 1992. With such a poor history the team and fans are desperate for success. While there have been bright spots and some amazing players, this is a franchise that is crying out for a new direction. They hired Matt Patricia from the New England Patriots to be their head coach coming into the 2018 season, but can you take over the team and lead them to glory?

*All stats correct at time of writing

Team Rating

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The Detroit Lions have a 76 overall rating in Madden 19. It's not a strong rating, with only four teams rated the same or lower. However, there are bright spots to the Lions team. The offense receives an 81 rating, which puts them above a good number of teams, and thanks to Matthew Stafford's presence they can play better than that if you master your playbook and reads. Defensively Detroit aren't good. They get a 77 defensive rating which is only better than two teams in Madden 19.

Damon Harrison, Defensive Tackle (OVR 94)

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Age: 29

Development Trait: Superstar

Contract: 3 years/$26.04 million

2018 Cap Hit: $7.47 million

Best Stats: Block Shedding (96), Impact Block (95), Tackle (94), Play Recognition (94), Awareness (94), Strength (93), Finesse Moves (72)

Damon Harrison went undrafted in 2012 but soon latched on with the New York Jets. By 2013 he was a starter for them at nose tackle and was soon regarded as the best run-stopping defensive lineman in the league. In 2016 he joined the giants as a free agent and bought his considerable talents to their defense, quickly becoming the darling of statistics companies like Pro Football Focus for his run-stuffing ability. He came to Detroit via trade before the deadline in 2018 and immediately improved the middle of their defense too.

Darius Slay Jr, Cornerback (OVR 88)

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Age: 27

Development Trait: Star

Contract: 3 years/$18.7 million

2018 Cap Hit: $5.64 million

Best Stats: Speed (94), Acceleration (93), Agility (93), Zone Coverage (89), Play Recognition (88), Man Coverage (87)

The Lions drafted Darius Slay in the second round of the 2013 draft. In his rookie year Slay was heavily targeted by opposing quarterbacks but showed enough promise to become a starter in his second year. Slay's potential was evident but he took some time to produce at the highest level. However, in 2017 he had a breakout season, putting up a league-high 8 interceptions and making the Pro Bowl for the first time as well as being named an All-Pro. Coming into 2018 he is a cornerstone of the Lions roster and has become a player that opposing teams try their best to avoid.

Marvin Jones Jr, Wide Receiver (OVR 87)

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Age: 28

Development Trait: Quick

Contract: 3 years/$23.08 million

2018 Cap Hit: $6.81 million

Best Stats: Spectacular Catch (95), Jumping (91), Speed (90), Acceleration (90), Deep Route (90), Agility (90), Catching In Traffic (88), Catching (87)

Marvin Jones came into the NFL as a fifth-round pick for the Cincinnati Bengals in 2012. As a rookie he saw little action, making just 18 catches, but in 2013 he came to prominence with 51 catches and a remarkable 10 touchdowns. Injury sidelined him for the whole of 2014, but when he came back in 2015 he made 65 catches for 816 yards. In 2016 he moved to Detroit as a free agent and flourished thanks to an expanded role. He had his first 1,000+ yard season in 2017 and comes into the 2018 season with 2,031 yards and 13 touchdowns in two years with the Lions.

Matthew Stafford, Quarterback (OVR 83)

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Age: 30

Development Trait: Star

Contract: 5 years/$99.8 million

2018 Cap Hit: $18.6 million

Best Stats: Throw Power (98), Play Action (86), Short Accuracy (86), Throw On Run (83), Throw Under Pressure (81)

Matthew Stafford was Detroit's reward for their 0-16 season as they took him with the first overall selection in the 2009 draft. He played just 13 games in his first two years in the NFL, but in 2011 Stafford exploded with 5,038 yards and 41 touchdowns. Both are career-highs, but Stafford has been a very consisted passer for the Lions, not missing a game since the start of the 2011 season and averaging 4,465 yards and 27 touchdowns a year, which is production many teams would love to have. At the age of 30 Stafford is now an established NFL quarterback and is regarded by many to be capable of leading a team to the Super Bowl if the supporting talent is there.

Full Roster & Depth Chart

QB
OVR
Speed
Throw Power
Short Accuracy
Medium Accuracy
Deep Accuracy
Throw Under Pressure
Play Action
Matthew Stafford
83
75
98
86
82
80
81
86
Matt Cassel
65
69
84
82
74
74
74
76
HB
OVR
Speed
Agility
Elusiveness
Carrying
Juke Move
Catching
Kerryon Johnson
81
88
85
77
90
85
71
LeGarrette Blount
79
85
82
69
89
83
59
Theo Riddick
79
87
94
85
82
90
72
Zach Zenner
72
87
81
66
87
81
64
FB
OVR
Speed
Strength
Carrying
Pass Block
Run Block
Lead Block
Impact Block
Nick Bawden
67
82
80
73
65
68
82
66
Nick Bellore
63
79
78
68
67
62
75
67
WR
OVR
Speed
Agility
Catching
Short Route
Medium Route
Deep Route
Catch In Traffic
Spectacular Catch
Release
Jumping
Marvin Jones Jr
87
90
90
87
81
88
90
88
95
84
91
Kenny Golladay
84
90
88
90
85
83
82
89
91
83
85
TJ Jones
76
90
92
84
77
78
76
83
81
68
82
Bruce Ellington
75
90
94
83
80
78
75
83
77
69
90
Brandon Powell
65
86
86
78
75
72
69
77
78
60
78
Andy Jones
65
88
89
76
64
65
66
75
74
69
96
TE
OVR
Speed
Agility
Catching
Short Route
Medium Route
Deep Route
Run Block
Luke Willson
75
86
83
78
68
65
61
69
Levine Toilolo
72
76
74
79
64
59
56
56
Michael Roberts
72
77
77
80
66
62
56
59
Jerome Cunningham
66
81
77
70
66
61
55
65
Don Muhlbach
56
65
61
52
45
40
35
61
OL
OVR
Speed
Strength
Pass Block
Run Block
Lead Block
Impact Block
TJ Lang
86
63
89
89
77
67
85
Frank Ragnow
81
73
92
80
83
85
85
Taylor Decker
79
65
90
82
74
85
84
Rick Wagner
79
65
87
80
80
87
89
Graham Glasgow
75
68
89
78
79
76
78
Tyrell Crosby
70
65
87
74
76
80
78
Kenny Wiggins
68
54
84
72
72
77
76
Leo Koloamatangi
65
58
83
74
72
76
77
Joe Dahl
63
66
84
71
75
51
76
Andrew Donnal
63
62
77
70
73
62
74
DE
OVR
Speed
Agility
Power Moves
Finesse Moves
Block Shedding
Ezekiel Ansah
82
84
81
81
74
78
Da'Shawn Hand
82
78
84
80
69
83
Romeo Okwara
75
77
75
79
75
73
Ricky Jean Francois
73
62
77
75
55
81
Kerry Hyder Jr
72
75
73
69
81
72
Eric Lee
69
81
88
61
70
66
DT
OVR
Speed
Strength
Power Moves
Finesse Moves
Block Shedding
Impact Block
Damon Harrison Sr
94
62
93
83
72
96
95
A'Shawn Robinson
79
66
86
80
66
80
86
Mitchell Loewen
71
74
87
75
71
76
82
John Atkins
61
60
81
70
53
72
81
OLB
OVR
Speed
Agility
Tackle
Hit Power
Play Recognition
Pursuit
Man Coverage
Zone Coverage
Devon Kennard
76
83
77
86
77
76
81
58
69
Christian Jones
75
81
84
83
83
76
82
53
61
Eli Harold
72
86
83
77
84
71
78
49
59
Jalen Reeves-Maybin
68
83
83
77
82
66
77
71
66
Nicholas Grigsby
67
87
81
78
78
56
78
50
63
Steve Longa
67
82
83
84
76
56
74
50
61
MLB
OVR
Speed
Agility
Tackle
Hit Power
Play Recognition
Pursuit
Man Coverage
Zone Coverage
Jarrad Davis
74
85
83
79
87
77
84
50
56
Kelvin Sheppard
66
80
74
81
86
73
75
55
67
Trevor Bates
61
80
83
80
78
48
78
54
63
CB
OVR
Speed
Acceleration
Agility
Man Coverage
Zone Coverage
Press
Darius Slay Jr
88
94
93
93
87
89
84
Nevin Lawson
76
90
89
90
74
71
66
Marcus Cooper Sr
74
89
88
83
73
74
78
Mike Ford
74
90
92
94
75
73
76
DeShawn Shead
72
87
89
88
76
75
76
Teez Tabor
71
87
90
92
70
69
77
Jamal Agnew
70
93
91
91
75
71
71
Dee Virgin
66
90
94
88
69
73
79
FS
OVR
Speed
Acceleration
Agility
Play Recognition
Man Coverage
Zone Coverage
Glover Quin
80
85
90
85
80
73
79
Tracy Walker III
73
89
91
81
69
75
75
Charles Washington
65
90
90
87
66
57
61
SS
OVR
Speed
Acceleration
Tackle
Play Recognition
Man Coverage
Zone Coverage
Quandre Diggs
80
87
87
65
83
78
80
Tavon Wilson
78
86
87
71
82
74
72
Miles Killebrew
73
87
89
74
73
54
64
ST
OVR
Kick Power
Kick Accuracy
Matt Prater (K)
80
94
87
Sam Martin (P)
78
96
83

The Lions roster does have talent, but there also a number of holes you'll need to fill in Franchise Mode. With Matthew Stafford (98 throw power, 86 short accuracy) under center the Lions have the most important piece of the puzzle, and around him are the weapons to create a deadly passing game. Marvin Jones (95 spectacular catch, 91 jumping) and Kenny Golladay (91 spectacular catch, 90 speed) are talented receivers that can win against man coverage. Rookie Kerryon Johnson (90 carrying, 88 speed) leads the way at running back and is supported by LeGarrette Blount (91 trucking, 91 acceleration) and Theo Riddick (94 agility, 90 juke move) who can provide brute force and a threat in the passing game.

The Lions have invested along the offensive line in recent years, with Frank Ragnow (92 strength, 85 impact block) their most recent first-round pick while Taylor Decker (90 strength, 82 pass block) handles the blindside blocking well. 

Defensively the Lions are less impressive. They have nice players on the defensive line such as the monstrous Damon Harrison (96 block shedding, 95 impact block) and fellow defensive tackle A'Shawn Robinson (86 impact block, 86 strength) as well as edge threat Ezekiel Ansah (89 acceleration, 88 power moves), but they lack depth up front and then come in short at linebacker, though Jarrad Davis (90 acceleration, 87 hit power) is a quality young player. Darius Slay (94 speed, 89 zone coverage) leads the secondary at cornerback and has help at safety from Glover Quin (90 acceleration, 79 zone coverage) and Quandre Diggs (87 acceleration, 80 zone coverage).

Detroit Lions Playbook - Offense

I Form Pro

I Form Slot

I Form Twin TE

Strong I Pro

Strong I Slot Flex

Strong I Y Off

Weak I Pro

Singleback Ace Pair

Singleback Ace U Off

Singleback Bunch Base

Singleback Deuce

Singleback Dice Slot

Singleback Wing Pair

Singleback Wing Slot

Singleback Y Off Trips

Pistol Doubles

Pistol Doubles Y Off

Pistol Open Slot

Pistol Strong Slot Open

Pistol Wing Flex

Shotgun Bunch Wide

Shotgun Double Y Flex Off Wk

Shotgun Doubles

Shotgun Doubles HB Wk

Shotgun Doubles Y Off

Shotgun Doubles Y Off Wk

Shotgun Eagle H Tight

Shotgun Empty Base Flex

Shotgun Empty Y-Flex

Shotgun Split Flex

Shotgun Spread Y-Slot Wk

Shotgun Stack Y Off Wk

Shotgun Trips TE Offset

Shotgun Trips Y-Flex

Shotgun Y Off Trips Wk

The Detroit Lions offensive playbook is not as spectacular as you may hope. There is a nice balance between I formation that will let you pound the rock when you need to, along with a lot more Pistol formations that you normally get, but this comes at the expense of Singleback formations. You lack money formations like Singleback Deuce Close, and while the Shotgun set is fairly deep and does have 3 empty formations to spread the ball around, you don't have formations like Shotgun Trio. Trips Y-Flex is a good one you will want to familiarize yourself with, but if you aren't comfortable with doubles formations then you may want to use a different playbook for the Lions.

Detroit Lions Playbook - Defense

3-4 Odd

3-4 Solid

3-4 Under

4-3 Over

4-3 Under

Nickel Normal

Nickel 3-3-5 Wide

Nickel 3-3-5 Odd

Nickel 2-4-5 Double A Gap

Big Nickel Over G

Dime Normal

Quarter Normal

Quarter 3 Deep

Dollar 3-2-6

Goal Line Defense 5-3-3

Goal Line Defense 5-4-2

The Lions defensive playbook is very nice. It is one of just a handful of "multiple" defensive playbooks, meaning you can switch between 3-4 and 4-3 fronts all game. This requires some careful personnel management, but it makes your defense much harder to read for an opponent. Along with those changing fronts you get a good selection of nickel packages, including the rare Nickel 3-3-5 Odd which will confuse a lot of opponents.

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