Cardinals draft Max Melton: How he fits, pick grade and scouting intel

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Cardinals draft Max Melton: How he fits, pick grade and scouting intel

The Arizona Cardinals on Friday selected Rutgers defensive back Max Melton in the second round of the NFL Draft, with the No. 43 overall pick.

Melton, a three-year starter at Rutgers and honorable mention All-Big Ten the past two seasons, is the younger brother of Bo Melton, who spent most of the 2023 season as a wide receiver on the Green Bay Packers’ practice squad.

NFL Draft 2024 tracker: Live blog, pick-by-pick grades and analysis
Big board best available: Who’s left from Dane Brugler’s Top 300?
Draft pick grades: Nick Baumgardner, Scott Dochterman rate the selections
Full draft order: Team picks for all 257 selections
“The Athletic Football Show”: Watch live reaction to the draft

‘The Beast’ breakdown

Melton ranked No. 63 overall on Dane Brugler’s Top 300 big board and was the 11th-ranked cornerback. Here’s what Brugler had to say about him in his annual NFL Draft guide:

“A four-year starter at Rutgers, Melton was an inside-outside cornerback in head coach Greg Schiano’s balanced coverage schemes. After one season as a defensive back in high school, he made the full transition for the Scarlet Knights and accounted for 30 passes defended and eight interceptions over the last three seasons. … Melton not only has opportunistic ball skills and athletic instincts, but he trusts them, which allows him to play sticky coverage in man-to-man or drive on throws from off coverage. Though his toughness stands out, he needs to be more reliable as a run defender and less handsy down the field. Overall, Melton brings explosive speed and attitude to his coverage, which will interest press-man teams. His experience inside and outside (and on special teams) will help him see the field right away in the NFL.”

Pick grade

From Nick Baumgardner and Scott Dochterman’s live grades:

“Arizona needed a fast, tough defensive back to change its secondary, and it got one of the better ones left on the board. Flexible and productive, Melton became the symbol of the new/old Rutgers program under head coach Greg Schiano. A four-year starter, he had nine pass breakups and three interceptions last year. Grade: B

How he fits …

If one need has hovered over this organization, it’s this one — the need to elevate the cornerback room. The Cardinals have tried veterans and newcomers, but the need has never completely disappeared. A four-year starter at Rutgers, Melton is a step in the right direction. In college, he was the type of player who made things happen. In 43 career games, he had eight interceptions and blocked four punts. He lined up all over the field, which helps with versatility.

Rookie impact

Melton’s speed and toughness should get him on the field sooner rather than later, either on defense or special teams. In college, he had the confidence and instincts to excel in man-to-man coverage, qualities that should translate to the NFL. His 30 pass deflections reflect his athletic ability and ball skills.

Depth-chart impact

In his first season, Garrett Williams, a 2023 third-round pick, played in nine games, starting six, and showed encouraging signs. In March, Arizona signed Sean Murphy-Bunting, a 2019 second-round pick who has started 50 games in five years. From there, the depth chart is not yet settled, which should give Melton a chance to contribute in his first season.

They also could have picked …

Had the Cardinals not traded down and stuck with their original pick at No. 35, they could have selected Iowa corner Cooper DeJean (who went to the Eagles at No. 40) or Alabama corner Kool-Aid McKinstry (the Saints at No. 41). They also could have opted for Oregon center Jackson Powers-Johnson, who went to the Raiders at No. 44. GM Monti Ossenfort will likely address the offensive line soon.

Fast evaluation

Melton has impressive qualities. He’s opportunistic. He has solid ball skills. And he trusts his instincts. Before becoming a defensive coordinator, head coach Jonathan Gannon coached DBs in Indianapolis and Minnesota, so he knows what to look for at this position. Melton will arrive with high expectations.

(Photo of Max Melton last season with Rutgers: Rich Schultz / Getty Images)