Madden 19: New England Patriots Player Ratings, Roster, Depth Chart & Playbooks

By Toby DurantHead of Content

The New England Patriots are one of the most successful franchises in NFL history, and the dominant force of football in the 21st century. They have won five Super Bowls since Tom Brady took over the reins in 2001, and have won the AFC a further three times.

They have crushed their divisional opponents for years, claiming every AFC East title since 2008, but with the Pittsburgh Steelers and an ascendant Jacksonville Jaguars it will be hard work to keep the Patriots atop the mountain. Here is everything you need to know about bringing a sixth title to Foxborough.

*All stats correct at time of writing

Team Rating

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The Patriots have a healthy 85 OVR rating, making them the second-best team behind the Philadelphia Eagles. Their offense is an excellent 89 thanks to their great quarterback and tight end, but that isn't their only strength. The defense scores a very good 87. With such good balance they are an immediate Super Bowl contender and a strong team to play online.

Tom Brady, Quarterback (OVR 99)

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Age: 41

Development Trait: Superstar

Contract: 2 years/$21.9m

2018 Cap Hit: $10.3m

Best Stats: Throw Power (96), Short Accuracy (99), Medium Accuracy (97), Deep Accuracy (86), Play Action (99), Throw Under Pressure (96)

Tom Brady is the quintessential pocket passer. A surgeon with the ball, he's been a deadly passer for years now. A five-time Super Bowl winner and three-time league MVP, Brady is arguably the greatest to ever play the sport and at 41 he is still going strong. Brady may retire early in your Franchise Mode run, but while you have him you can carve up any defense.

Rob Gronkowski, Tight End (OVR 99)

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Age: 29

Development Trait: Superstar

Contract: 2 years/$23.52m

2018 Cap Hit: $8.62m

Best Stats: Speed (83), Acceleration (88), Catching (96), Catching In Traffic (97), Run Block (83)

Rob Gronkowski has been a mismatch ever since he came into the NFL. Too big for safeties to handle, to fast for linebackers, too strong for everyone, he has crushed defenses since day one. A second-round pick in 2010, Gronkowski has scored 77 regular season touchdowns despite a lot of injuries and time missed.

Devin McCourty, Free Safety (OVR 92)

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Age: 31

Development Trait: Quick

Contract: 2 years/$20.55m

2018 Cap Hit: $8.65m

Best Stats: Speed (90), Acceleration (90), Play Recognition (92), Awareness (92), Zone Coverage (87)

A first-round pick in 2010, Devin McCourty started his career with the Patriots as a cornerback, and while he picked off seven passes as a rookie he didn't quite settle into the position. Not to give up on the player, the Patriots moved him to free safety, where McCourty has excelled. His ability to read the game and his athleticism to cover ground has made him a menace to opposing offenses on every snap.

Stephon Gilmore, Cornerback (OVR 87)

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Age: 27

Development Trait: Quick

Contract: 4 years/$44.7m

2018 Cap Hit: $10.5m

Best Stats: Speed (91), Acceleration (94), Man Coverage (88), Zone Coverage (87), Press (87)

Stephon Gilmore was a first-round pick for the Buffalo Bills in 2012 and really excelled early on, however the Bills were unwilling to pay him so he hit free agency in 2017, where New England signed him. In his first year with the Patriots Gilmore had an immediate impact, picking off two passes and playing extremely well as the Patriots made another run to the Super Bowl. Gilmore had a vital pass break up to seal their AFC Championship Game win.

Depth Chart & Full Roster

QB
OVR
Speed
Throw Power
Short Accuracy
Medium Accuracy
Deep Accuracy
Throw Under Pressure
Play Action
Tom Brady
99
61
96
99
97
86
96
99
Brian Hoyer
69
68
87
83
77
73
77
83
Danny Etling
62
80
92
78
72
73
66
74
HB
OVR
Speed
Agility
Elusiveness
Carrying
Juke Move
Catching
James White
83
89
90
83
85
87
76
Rex Burkhead
78
84
88
77
88
84
73
Mike Gillislee
77
88
89
71
88
82
63
Sony Michel
77
90
93
81
85
88
68
Jeremy Hill
76
88
84
75
85
83
66
Brandon Bolden
68
87
86
59
85
75
60
FB
OVR
Speed
Strength
Carrying
Pass Block
Run Block
Lead Block
Impact Block
James Devlin
76
70
87
76
68
71
96
73
WR
OVR
Speed
Agility
Catching
Short Route
Medium Route
Deep Route
Catching In Traffic
Spectacular Catch
Release
Jumping
Julian Edelman
88
85
91
90
95
92
81
89
88
87
84
Chris Hogan
83
88
89
92
85
87
85
86
84
78
89
Jordan Matthews
77
90
87
83
81
79
77
82
85
75
88
Cordarrelle Patterson
76
91
97
84
76
74
77
77
85
72
93
Malcolm Mitchell
75
90
87
87
76
78
75
80
83
73
91
Phillip Dorsett
75
95
96
84
75
70
75
82
84
62
89
Kenny Britt
73
85
84
83
76
74
72
82
84
78
91
Braxton Berrios
70
91
91
78
81
77
71
77
73
67
86
Matthew Slater
68
86
86
75
73
70
65
76
74
68
84
TE
OVR
Speed
Agility
Catching
Short Route
Medium Route
Deep Route
Run Block
Rob Gronkowski
99
83
85
96
88
86
78
83
Dwayne Allen
82
75
73
84
69
64
59
82
Will Tye
77
87
83
86
76
72
67
53
Jacob Hollister
72
84
80
78
58
53
48
69
Troy Niklas
72
77
79
78
68
62
58
53
Ryan Izzo
68
74
77
74
61
57
51
70
Joe Cardona
39
75
72
57
35
30
25
45
OL
OVR
Speed
Strength
Pass Block
Run Block
Lead Block
Impact Block
David Andrews
83
68
86
82
86
82
84
Shaq Mason
83
73
87
77
87
86
88
Marcus Cannon
82
61
92
77
88
78
83
Trent Brown
82
63
91
85
73
74
79
Joe Thuney
79
74
86
82
79
82
81
Isaiah Wynn
77
70
87
83
80
83
82
Ted Karras
70
61
86
71
76
84
80
LaAdrian Waddle
70
57
87
72
75
79
81
Jason King
69
62
94
71
74
83
82
Matt Tobin
67
74
79
71
75
80
80
Luke Bowanko
67
62
86
71
73
80
82
Cole Croston
66
63
82
71
79
82
81
Ulrick John
65
66
77
72
74
76
78
DE
OVR
Speed
Agility
Strength
Block Shedding
Finesse Moves
Power Moves
Trey Flowers
86
77
69
87
84
66
88
Adrian Clayborn
84
77
74
84
68
71
88
Deatrich Wise Jr
74
75
71
72
68
64
76
Geneo Grissom
68
79
75
53
73
64
75
DT
OVR
Speed
Strength
Power Moves
Finesse Moves
Block Shedding
Impact Block
Danny Shelton
85
51
95
75
51
86
89
Malcom Brown
82
71
85
78
62
88
87
Lawrence guy
78
71
84
75
66
80
81
Adam Butler
73
65
86
77
68
68
84
Vincent Valentine
70
66
79
82
68
80
83
OLB
OVR
Speed
Agility
Tackle
Hit Power
Play Recognition
Pursuit
Man Coverage
Zone Coverage
Dont'a Hightower
84
83
76
94
90
88
82
52
64
Kyle Van Noy
76
82
83
85
69
79
79
63
72
Marquis Flowers
74
86
83
71
69
73
78
69
79
Dere Rivers
72
85
78
76
83
59
77
60
66
Harvey Langi
68
84
79
79
84
47
78
66
68
Eric Lee
68
81
71
76
75
63
78
60
67
MLB
OVR
Speed
Agility
Tackle
Hit Power
Play Recognition
Pursuit
Man Coverage
Zone Coverage
Elandon Roberts
73
85
73
86
89
78
80
51
61
Ja'Whaun Bentley
69
81
78
82
83
58
81
52
58
Christian Sam
65
81
81
78
79
52
81
58
62
Nicholas Grigsby
64
87
81
78
75
56
78
50
63
CB
OVR
Speed
Acceleration
Agility
Man Coverage
Zone Coverage
Press
Stephon Gilmore
87
91
94
89
88
87
87
Jason McCourty
87
92
94
88
87
85
83
Jonathan Jones
76
95
95
85
76
77
72
Eric Rowe
74
91
91
90
75
69
81
Duke Dawson Jr
72
90
90
89
79
74
78
Cyrus Jones
71
90
91
91
78
73
74
Keion Crossen
69
95
92
92
75
71
72
FS
OVR
Speed
Acceleration
Agility
Play Recognition
Man Coverage
Zone Coverage
Devin McCourty
92
90
90
91
92
85
87
Duron Harmon
79
88
89
84
82
79
84
Brandon King
65
89
91
81
61
64
68
SS
OVR
Speed
Acceleration
Tackle
Play Recognition
Man Coverage
Zone Coverage
Patrick Chung
83
85
91
72
85
79
87
Nate Ebner
69
86
89
74
85
55
60
Jordan Richards
67
86
90
72
64
55
66
K
OVR
Kick Power
Kick Accuracy
Stephen Gostkowski
83
96
88
P
OVR
Kick Power
Kick Accuracy
Ryan Allen
80
91
85
Corey Bojorquez
73
94
78

The Patriots roster revolves completely around Tom Brady. Having a 99 OVR quarterback that can slice and dice a defense is always a huge advantage for any team. Brady's supporting cast doesn't look great, but it works to his strengths. Julian Edelman (95 short route running, 90 catching) and James White (89 speed, 76 catching) are very nice pieces for an underneath passing game, while Rob Gronkowski (96 catching, 94 release) is simply a dominant force in the middle of the field. The offensive line is solid if unspectacular, but Isaiah Wynn (83 pass block, 80 run block) is a future star for Franchise Mode.

Defensively the Patriots are well-rounded, but feature more size than speed. Up front their best players are Dont'a Hightower (94 tackle, 88 play recognition) and Trey Flowers (88 power moves, 84 block shedding), but there are a lot of acceptable but unspectacular players in the front seven. The secondary is very good, with Devin McCourty (92 play recognition, 87 zone coverage) and Patrick Chung (85 play recognition, 87 zone coverage) roaming at the safety spots and Stephon Gilmore (88 man coverage, 87 zone coverage) at corner. In Franchise Mode you'll want to add speed, but they are a unit that is ready to go in online and exhibition play.

Playbook - Offense

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I Form - Pro

I Form - Slot

I Form - Tight

I Form - Y Off

Strong I - Pro

Weak I - Close

Singleback - Ace

Singleback - Ace Close

Singleback - Ace Pair

Singleback - Ace Slot

Singleback - Bunch Ace

Singleback - Dice Slot

Singleback - Tight Slots

Singleback - Wing Pair

Singleback - Wing Slot

Singleback - Wing Tight

Singleback - Y Trips

Shotgun - Ace Slot Offset

Shotgun - Bunch

Shotgun - Doubles

Shotgun - Doubles Flex Wk Pats

Shotgun - Doubles Y-Flex

Shotgun - Empty Ace Patriot

Shotgun - Empty Base Flex

Shotgun - Normal Wing Pats

Shotgun - Snug Flip

Shotgun - Split Close Pats

Shotgun - Spread Y-Slot

Shotgun - Trips TE

Shotgun - Trips TE Flex

Shotgun - Trips Y Iso

Shotgun - Trips Y-Flex

Shotgun - U Trips Wk

Shotgun - Wing Flex Offset Wk

The Patriots playbook is shotgun heavy, making it one of the best passing playbooks in the game. There are tonnes of special and unique plays in here and formations like Doubles Flex Wk Pats and Trips Y Iso that make use of their personnel. There are solid under center options that also play on Brady’s terrific play action ability to set defenses up and then strike over the top.

Playbook - Defense

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3-4 Odd

3-4 Solid

3-4 Under

4-3 Over

4-3 Under

Nickel Normal

Nickel 2-4-5

Nickel 2-4-5 Double A Gap

Nickel 3-3-5 Odd

Nickel 3-3-5 Wide

Big Nickel Over G

Dime 2-3-6 Sam

Dime 1-4-6

Quarter Normal

Quarter 1-3-7

Quarter 3 Deep

Goal Line Defense 5-3-3

Goal Line Defense 5-4-2

The Patriots defensive playbook is complex and deep. You need to be on top of your depth charts and in-game substitutions to make sure you can flow between a 3-4 and 4-3 front easily as well as all the different nickel formations. Unsurprisingly for a Bill Belichick playbook this will take some time to learn and requires a veteran player to truly maximize all the different looks you can have here. As with every playbook, the Big Nickel Over G will be a very good package this year for most situations, but the ability to mix up looks with the Patriots really does help cover for some of their personnel shortcomings.