49ers All-Pro Talanoa Hufanga below former teammate in Madden 23 ratings
Talanoa Hufanga had a massive influence on the 49ers' defensive success in 2022 in a breakout year that saw him named a first-team All-Pro. But his superb performances last season were not enough to even land him in the top 10 among safeties in the ratings for Madden 23. Hufanga received a rating of 86, […]
Talanoa Hufanga had a massive influence on the 49ers' defensive success in 2022 in a breakout year that saw him named a first-team All-Pro.
But his superb performances last season were not enough to even land him in the top 10 among safeties in the ratings for Madden 23.
Hufanga received a rating of 86, putting him 16th for his position.
That leaves him below a host of players whom they can claim to have outperformed last season.
Perhaps most notably, he trails his former teammate, Jimmie Ward, who left the 49ers for the Texans in free agency. Ward was the 49ers' starter at free safety until last season, when he spent much of the campaign at nickel.
Ward's abilities in man coverage perhaps gave him a slight edge over Hufanga, but some of the other names ahead of Hufanga are more difficult to justify.
Seahawks safety Jamal Adams is inexplicably above Hufanga with a rating of 88. Adams can be a game-wrecker near the line of scrimmage, but putting him higher than a player who earned All-Pro recognition seems especially bizarre when you remember he played in one game last season because of injury.
Hufanga is a more versatile talent than Adams, one who can impact the game as a blitzer, operate in the deep middle and consistently make plays on the ball through his exceptional instincts.
Last season, Hufanga recorded four interceptions, with one returned for a touchdown. He also registered nine pass breakups, two sacks, three quarterback hits, five tackles for loss and two forced fumbles.
In other words, Hufanga was a walking splash play in 2022. Though his hunger to make impact plays sometimes led to gambles that backfired, the big plays far outweighed the coverage busts.
An impactful playmaker who plays the game in an ultra-aggressive fashion would seem like the ideal candidate for a top-tier Madden rating. Hufanga should be higher than 16th among safeties, and it would be no surprise to see his rating receive a boost once the season gets off and running.
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