Max Melton NFL Draft Overview
Position: Cornerback School: RutgersHeight: 5″11
Weight: 187 lbs
Age: 21 years old
Arm: 32 1/8″
Hand: 9 1/8″
40 yard Dash: 4.39 seconds
Since the start of the 2000s, Rutgers football has been an underrated program under one man. Coach Greg Schiano. Under anyone else, it is pathetic, but under Schiano, Rutgers football has been an NFL hotbed for talent. The Scarlet Knights under Schiano has had NFL greats such as Anthony Davis, the McCorthy twins, Kenny Britt, Ray Rice, Logan Ryan, and many more impactful NFL players. Well, he’s done it again with another Scarlet Knight draft crush of mine, who is defensive back Max Melton. Melton was a three-star recruit from Harbour City, New Jersey, committed to Rutgers. At Rutgers, Melton started 40 of 43 eligible games and finished with eight interceptions plus 22 pass deflections. The Scarlet Knights put on a show at the combine, showing his 4.3 speed and quickness. Does he have what it takes to earn a first-round grade? Let’s dig into the film!
Max Melton Player Evaluation
Melton’s Strengths
- Elite Athletic ability: 99 percentile broad jump, 94 percentile vertical, plus 4.39 40. His quick hip twitch allows for inside and outside corner versatility.
- They are advanced in zone coverage. Has innate ability to read QB eyes and route concepts. Very aware and able to make plays on the football in zone coverage
- Is good in man coverage with room and talent to improve. Has good size, length, and speed combination to be a good man cover corner in the NFL.
- He has great ball skills and can flip field positions with turnovers or pass deflections. Has a competitive edge over the top corners, have
- Aggressive and physical in the run game. He does not mind getting in the trenches and putting in work.
Melton’s Weakness
- He can be sloppy in his technique, which aggressively puts him in a compromising position.
- Gets beat way too easily in short-yardage situations for a corner of his talent.
- Let’s Wide Receivers cross their faces for easy yards and easy first downs too often.
- He can be fooled by double moves, wanting to make a play, and not holding down his assignment.
- Plays too upright, which hurts his transitions at times.
Projection: Second Round Pick
NFL Comparison: Ronald Darby
Best Fits: Arizona Cardinals, Washington Commanders, Pittsburgh Steelers, Las Vegas Raiders, and the Kansas City Chiefs.
Bottom Line
Max Melton is a future good starting cornerback in the NFL. His floor is underrated, and he can make an impact as your number 2 or 3 corner right now. Combine that with his upside due to his elite athleticism. If he improves technical issues, Melton could be a force in the NFL. Melton is good in the zone, using his eyes and route anticipation to make plays on the football. He’s aggressive at the line of scrimmage with his long arms and has the makeup speed to maintain leverage. Where Melton comes up short is his pad level, which is terrible as he plays too high. Plus, he can be too aggressive, so he should start inside before transferring outside. Melton also gets beat across his face on routes such as drags and slants far too often for a player of his talent. The NFL comparison was Ronald Darby. Main Photo: [Jeffrey Becker] – USA Today SportsMore must-reads: