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Madden 18: Every NFL team’s best Madden player ever

By David Austin Bumpus

HOUSTON - DECEMBER 1: New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady passes under pressure from Houston Texans J.J. Watt during the first quarter at Reliant Stadium on Sunday, Dec. 1, 2013. (Photo by Jessica Rinaldi for The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
HOUSTON - DECEMBER 1: New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady passes under pressure from Houston Texans J.J. Watt during the first quarter at Reliant Stadium on Sunday, Dec. 1, 2013. (Photo by Jessica Rinaldi for The Boston Globe via Getty Images) /
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Miami Dolphins linebacker Jason Taylor acknowledges the crowd as he is introduced prior to kickoff against the New York Jets at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla., on January 1, 2012. (Robert Duyos/Sun Sentinel/TNS via Getty Images)
Miami Dolphins linebacker Jason Taylor acknowledges the crowd as he is introduced prior to kickoff against the New York Jets at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla., on January 1, 2012. (Robert Duyos/Sun Sentinel/TNS via Getty Images) /

Miami Dolphins: Jason Taylor

Jason Taylor is one of the best linebackers in league history, and he was a big piece of the Miami Dolphins’ dominant defense from 2002 to 2009 both in real life and in the long stretch of Madden games he appeared with the team in.

Although he had a serious drop-off from 2009 to 2010 that tends to leave a sour taste for Dolphins fans, he was absolutely amazing from 2002-09 coming at quarterbacks for Miami’s defense.

Taylor consistently saw his Madden rating stay in the 90s throughout the 2000s, as he quickly jumped from a 91 to a 98 overall in the span of just two years for the team. He never quite reached the 99 overall club in any of the games, but found himself with a 98 overall in three separate versions of Madden in 2004, 2005 and 2009.

The Dolphins legend had some crazy speed for a guy at his position and with his size, and that made him a serious threat on defense alongside guys like Zach Thomas and Joey Porter for the team. He’s shown up in the last few years in Madden, and is just as dominant in recent versions of the game as a legend as he was during his prime.

Although Dolphins fans haven’t seen their defense return to the success they had about 10 years ago, at least they can plug in their old PlayStation’s and go back to the good ol’ days when guys like Taylor were around to play with.