Darren Waller Madden Career 2016-2026 - Peak 93 OVR
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Madden
From stocking grocery shelves to 1,196 yards in Vegas
Two years before he was one of the best tight ends in football, Darren Waller was stocking shelves at a grocery store, newly sober and unsure whether football was still an option. He had started using oxycodone at 15, and substance-abuse violations cost him four games in 2016 and all of 2017. A sixth-round pick, 204th overall out of Georgia Tech in 2015, he had entered the NFL as a wide receiver before converting to tight end.
The comeback was total. After Oakland claimed him off Baltimore's practice squad, Waller caught 90 passes for 1,145 yards in 2019, then 107 for 1,196 and nine touchdowns in 2020, earning his first Pro Bowl. That season he set a Raiders tight end record with 200 receiving yards on 13 catches against the Jets. He also started a foundation to help young people fight addiction.
Madden captured the arc cleanly. Waller languished at 61 in the 2015 edition and stayed in the 60s for years, then leaped to 85 in the 2020 edition once he broke out and peaked at 93 in the 2021 game. Injuries and a trade to the Giants pulled the number back toward the low 80s afterward.
Darren Waller Madden Career Milestones
- Peak rating: 93 OVR in Madden NFL 2022 (age 29)
- Appeared in 8 Madden releases (Madden NFL 2016 through Madden NFL 2026)
- Entered at 61 OVR in Madden NFL 2016, climbed 32 points to his peak
- Biggest single-year rise: 17 points into Madden NFL 2021
- Played for 4 franchises: Ravens, Raiders, Giants, Dolphins
- Listed as a tight end in every Madden release
Darren Waller Madden Career Ratings
| Madden | Team | Pos | OVR | Speed | ACC | AGI | COD | STR | JMP | STA | INJ | TGH | AWR | PRC | THP | TAS | TAM | TAD | PAC | TOR | TUP | BSK | CAR | BTK | TRK | BCV | SFA | SPM | JKM | CTH | SPC | CIT | SRR | MRR | DRR | RLS | RBK | RBP | RBF | PBK | PBP | PBF | IBL | LBK | TAK | POW | PUR | BSH | PMV | FMV | MCV | ZCV | PRS | KPW | KAC | KRN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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2016 2015 NFL season
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WR | 61 | 90 | 90 | 84 | - | 64 | 87 | 84 | 91 | 80 | 47 | 15 | 35 | 15 | 10 | 6 | 6 | 10 | - | - | 70 | - | 69 | 69 | 67 | 72 | 68 | 76 | 83 | 79 | 40 | 40 | 40 | 77 | 57 | - | - | 44 | - | - | 56 | - | 32 | 15 | 37 | - | - | - | 10 | 20 | 15 | 22 | 14 | 22 |
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2018 2017 NFL season
Did not play
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TE | 68 | 88 | 88 | 84 | - | 64 | 87 | 84 | 91 | 80 | 62 | 15 | 35 | 15 | 10 | 6 | 6 | 10 | - | - | 70 | - | 69 | 69 | 67 | 72 | 68 | 77 | 83 | 79 | 55 | 55 | 55 | 77 | 55 | - | - | 64 | - | - | 56 | - | 32 | 15 | 37 | - | - | - | 10 | 20 | 15 | 22 | 14 | 22 |
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2020 2019 NFL season
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TE | 68 | 88 | 88 | 83 | - | 66 | 87 | 84 | 91 | 80 | 64 | 15 | 35 | 15 | 10 | 6 | 6 | 10 | - | - | 70 | - | 69 | 68 | 67 | 72 | 69 | 77 | 83 | 79 | 56 | - | 45 | 77 | 55 | - | - | 64 | - | - | 56 | - | 32 | 15 | 37 | - | - | - | 10 | 20 | 15 | 22 | 14 | 22 |
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2021 2020 NFL season
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TE | 85 | 89 | 89 | 84 | 81 | 70 | 87 | 91 | 91 | 81 | 86 | 15 | 35 | 15 | 10 | 6 | 6 | 10 | - | - | 73 | - | 70 | 73 | 67 | 72 | 72 | 93 | 84 | 80 | 80 | - | 72 | 81 | 61 | - | - | 63 | - | - | 56 | - | 32 | 15 | 37 | - | - | - | 10 | 20 | 15 | 22 | 14 | 22 |
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2022 2021 NFL season
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TE | 93 | 90 | 90 | 84 | 82 | 70 | 87 | 91 | 91 | 85 | 95 | 15 | 35 | 15 | 10 | 6 | 6 | 10 | - | - | 74 | - | 74 | 89 | 67 | 72 | 77 | 97 | 87 | 85 | 86 | 80 | 77 | 83 | 59 | - | - | 62 | - | - | 56 | - | 32 | 15 | 37 | - | - | - | 10 | 20 | 15 | 22 | 14 | 22 |
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2023 2022 NFL season
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TE | 91 | 90 | 90 | 85 | 82 | 70 | 87 | 92 | 90 | 85 | 93 | 15 | 35 | 15 | 10 | 6 | 6 | 10 | - | - | 74 | - | 74 | 89 | 67 | 72 | 77 | 89 | 88 | 85 | 86 | - | 78 | 83 | 59 | - | - | 62 | - | - | 56 | - | 32 | 15 | 37 | - | - | - | 10 | 20 | 15 | 22 | 14 | 22 |
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2024 2023 NFL season
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TE | 86 | 88 | 89 | 84 | 82 | 70 | 88 | 91 | 86 | 85 | 82 | 15 | 35 | 15 | 10 | 6 | 6 | 10 | - | - | 74 | - | 74 | 88 | 67 | 72 | 77 | 87 | 87 | 86 | 81 | - | 75 | 78 | 59 | - | - | 60 | - | - | 56 | - | 32 | 15 | 37 | - | - | - | 10 | 20 | 15 | 22 | 14 | 22 |
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2026 2025 NFL season
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TE | 82 | 88 | 88 | 83 | 80 | 70 | 88 | 91 | 79 | 78 | 85 | 15 | 35 | 15 | 10 | 6 | 6 | 10 | 10 | 13 | 74 | 73 | 74 | 88 | 67 | 72 | 77 | 85 | 83 | 82 | 75 | 72 | 70 | 75 | 59 | 59 | 55 | 60 | 62 | 58 | 56 | 41 | 32 | 15 | 37 | 35 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 20 | 15 | 22 | 14 | 22 |
Era Tight Ends who played alongside Darren Waller
Darren Waller Madden Ratings by Year
Darren Waller Madden NFL 2016 rating: 61 OVR (2015 NFL season, BAL). Darren Waller Madden NFL 2018 rating: 68 OVR (2017 NFL season, BAL). Darren Waller Madden NFL 2020 rating: 68 OVR (2019 NFL season, OAK). Darren Waller Madden NFL 2021 rating: 85 OVR (2020 NFL season, LV). Darren Waller Madden NFL 2022 rating: 93 OVR (2021 NFL season, LV). Darren Waller Madden NFL 2023 rating: 91 OVR (2022 NFL season, LV). Darren Waller Madden NFL 2024 rating: 86 OVR (2023 NFL season, NYG). Darren Waller Madden NFL 2026 rating: 82 OVR (2025 NFL season, MIA).