Posted August 3rd at 10:00am.

Middle linebackers are often the workhorse of the defense. It’s this position that typically racks up the tackling totals to ungodly proportions. They’re never too far away from the play and the elite MLBs can shut down an offensive gameplan and are routinely used in coverage or on the attack. Get ready to create chaos for the offense with the top 5 MLBs for Madden NFL 18.





1. Luke Kuechly, Carolina Panthers Kuechly is a stud linebacker who is likely entering Club 99 before the season is over. He’s routinely leading the league in tackles, and there’s not much I can say here that his ratings don’t say better. Kuechly has the best rating in the MLB class in several categories, including Catch 80, Tackle 98, Pursuit 97, Play Recognition 96, and 87 in Zone Coverage. He’s sort of a big deal. His hit power is only beaten by one MLB, and that player is . . .





2. Bobby Wagner, Seattle Seahawks Wagner is the monster that led the NFL in tackles last season. Kuechly barely edges him out in most categories, but there are a couple that set Wagner apart. With an 88 Speed, he’s the fastest of the top 5 MLBs, and he has a best in class Hit Power of 95. Sounds about right for a player that’s never far from the ball and is the foundation of the loaded Seahawk defense.





3. Dont’a Hightower, New England Patriots With all the attention that goes to some guy name Tom, it’s easy to forget that the Pats are well equipped on the defensive side of the ball. Hightower isn’t as fast as the others listed here, but he’s the strongest of the 5 with an 84 Strength rating. He also scores an 84 on Power Move, best among MLBs. This gives him plenty of potential to blast past blockers and stop plays before they get started.





4. C.J. Mosley, Baltimore Ravens Honestly, it would feel weird if the Ravens didn’t have an excellent linebacker. It’s just too ingrained in their identity. Outside of Strength, Mosley scores well in terms of ratings. He’s rated high enough in both man and zone coverage, and while he may not rank at the top of the MLB class, he’s still a dangerous defender.





5. NaVorro Bowman, San Francisco 49ers Coming in with an 88 OVR, Bowman is one of the few Madden ratings bright spots for the Niners. Bowman is rated higher in zone coverage than he is man. He’s also a solid tackler with a 93 Hit Power. That combination is a cause for concern for an offense looking to not turn the ball over. Honorable Mentions Let’s talk about Ryan Shazier of the Pittsburgh Steelers. He’s rated at an 81 OVR, largely because his Awareness and Coverage scores aren’t the best. But, his base stats make him an interesting pick to control on defense. He has a solid 85 Tackle and 87 Hit Power. To go along with that, he has a best in class 90 Speed and 97 Jump ratings. He can cover a lot of the field and has the potential to swat away tons of passes in the right player’s hands. -Daniel Williams