Ahmed Plummer Madden Career 2002-2006 - Peak 89 OVR

Ahmed Plummer was a first-team All-Big Ten cornerback at Ohio State and a cousin of NBA forward Brian Grant, and the 49ers made him the 24th pick of the 2000 draft to rebuild a fading secondary. He gave them a physical, press-minded starter for the better part of five seasons.

Durability was the enemy. Plummer fought neck and other injuries that cost him significant chunks of 2004 and 2005, and he played in only nine of his final 32 games before retiring in June 2006 at age 29, with doctors warning about the danger of continuing. It was a short, solid career undone by a body that would not cooperate.

Madden rewarded the steady early years and, oddly, peaked him just as the injuries took hold. He started at 78 in the 2000 edition, dipped to 77 in 2001, then climbed to 84, then 86, and finally a matching 89 in both the 2004 and 2005 games, the ratings honoring his reputation right as his availability vanished.