Adam Meadows Madden Career 1999-2004 - Peak 90 OVR

The Indianapolis Colts spent a second-round pick, 48th overall in 1997, on a four-year Georgia starter, and it paid off fast. Adam Meadows opened his rookie year at left tackle, then settled in at right tackle, and when Indianapolis made Peyton Manning the first pick of the 1998 draft, Meadows was the guy on the edge keeping the franchise quarterback upright. He was not flashy or loud about it. He just started, 99 times across 106 games in seven Colts seasons, and let the quarterback grow up behind him.

A neck problem cut the run short, and a 2006 comeback bid with Denver was the last of it. His Madden line reflects the quiet consistency: a 90 in the 2002 edition was the high mark, bracketed by an 89 in 2000 and 88s on either side, before a farewell 81 in the 2007 game. Steady tackles rarely get statues built for them, but the Colts teams that started their long run of contention were protected by one.