Darren Howard Madden Career 2002-2010 - Peak 90 OVR
The rookie with 11 sacks who reinvented himself inside
Darren Howard announced himself immediately. A second-round pick, 33rd overall out of Kansas State in 2000, he posted 11 sacks and an interception as a rookie for the Saints, one of the best debut seasons a New Orleans edge rusher has had. He spent six years in New Orleans before signing with Philadelphia in 2006.
What kept him valuable was his willingness to move inside. With the Eagles in 2008 he led the team with 10.5 sacks, generating most of that pressure by kicking down to defensive tackle on passing downs, a role that squeezed extra years out of his career. He was a two-time All-American at Kansas State and later entered the school's Ring of Honor.
The Madden ratings track his steady value more than any single spike. He was a 78 in the 2000 edition as a rookie, jumped to 87 the following year, and bounced through the 80s before peaking at 90 in the 2005 game, his final full Saints season. He stayed a 90-then-89 into his Philadelphia move before drifting to the high 70s at the end of the run.
Darren Howard Madden Career Milestones
- Peak rating: 90 OVR in Madden NFL 2006 (age 28)
- Appeared in 8 Madden releases (Madden NFL 2002 through Madden NFL 2010)
- Entered at 87 OVR in Madden NFL 2002, climbed 3 points to his peak
- Biggest single-year rise: 3 points into Madden NFL 2004
- Played for 2 franchises: Saints, Eagles
- Listed as a defensive lineman in every Madden release
- Final Madden appearance: Madden NFL 2010 at 78 OVR
Darren Howard Madden Career Ratings
| Madden | Team | Pos | OVR | Speed | ACC | AGI | STR | JMP | STA | INJ | TGH | AWR | PRC | THP | TAS | TAM | TAD | CAR | TRK | BCV | SFA | SPM | JKM | CTH | SPC | CIT | SRR | MRR | DRR | RLS | RBK | PBK | IBL | TAK | POW | PUR | MCV | ZCV | PRS | KPW | KAC | KRN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2002 2001 NFL season
|
|
LDE | 87 | 70 | 80 | 71 | 83 | 58 | 86 | 90 | 87 | 72 | - | 12 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 19 | - | - | - | - | - | 32 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 29 | 29 | - | 79 | - | - | - | - | - | 21 | 14 | - |
|
2003 2002 NFL season
|
|
RDE | 82 | 64 | 81 | 68 | 82 | 58 | 78 | 85 | 87 | - | - | 17 | - | - | - | 22 | - | - | - | - | - | 36 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 34 | 33 | - | 79 | - | - | - | - | - | 25 | 19 | - |
|
2004 2003 NFL season
|
|
RDE | 85 | 69 | 81 | 70 | 82 | 58 | 78 | 85 | 87 | 75 | - | 17 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 22 | - | - | - | - | - | 36 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 34 | 33 | - | 80 | - | - | - | - | - | 25 | 19 | 0 |
|
2005 2004 NFL season
|
|
RDE | 88 | 72 | 80 | 75 | 81 | 58 | 79 | 89 | 87 | 78 | - | 17 | - | - | - | 22 | - | - | - | - | - | 36 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 34 | 33 | - | 82 | - | - | - | - | - | 25 | 19 | - |
|
2006 2005 NFL season
|
|
LDE | 90 | 72 | 80 | 75 | 81 | 58 | 79 | 89 | - | 81 | - | 17 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 22 | - | - | - | - | - | 36 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 34 | 33 | - | 85 | - | - | - | - | - | 25 | 19 | 0 |
|
2007 2006 NFL season
|
|
RDE/LDE | 89 | 74 | 80 | 71 | 81 | 58 | 79 | 89 | 87 | 79 | 78 | 17 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 22 | 34 | 10 | 10 | 15 | 35 | 36 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 34 | 33 | 34 | 84 | - | 84 | 13 | 29 | - | 25 | 19 | 0 |
|
2008 2007 NFL season
|
|
DE | 86 | 73 | 79 | 71 | 80 | 58 | 79 | 89 | - | 74 | 75 | 17 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 22 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 15 | 35 | 36 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 25 | 34 | 33 | 34 | 78 | 59 | 84 | 13 | 29 | 15 | 25 | 19 | 0 |
|
2010 2009 NFL season
|
|
DE | 78 | 67 | 72 | 70 | 81 | 58 | 70 | 85 | 87 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 40 | - | - | - | - | - | 36 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 65 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Era Defensive Linemen who played alongside Darren Howard
Darren Howard Madden Ratings by Year
Darren Howard Madden NFL 2002 rating: 87 OVR (2001 NFL season, NO). Darren Howard Madden NFL 2003 rating: 82 OVR (2002 NFL season, NO). Darren Howard Madden NFL 2004 rating: 85 OVR (2003 NFL season, NO). Darren Howard Madden NFL 2005 rating: 88 OVR (2004 NFL season, NO). Darren Howard Madden NFL 2006 rating: 90 OVR (2005 NFL season, NO). Darren Howard Madden NFL 2007 rating: 89 OVR (2006 NFL season, PHI). Darren Howard Madden NFL 2008 rating: 86 OVR (2007 NFL season, PHI). Darren Howard Madden NFL 2010 rating: 78 OVR (2009 NFL season, PHI).