Does Rutgers CB Max Melton have a 2024 NFL Draft scouting report worth consideration in the early-round range, and could he be a surprise Round 1 pick? A productive collegiate playmaker with NFL bloodlines and athleticism, Melton is a prospect to keep your eyes on.
Max Melton’s Draft Profile and Measurements
- Height: 5’11”
- Weight: 193 pounds
- Length: 32 1/8″
- Wingspan: 76 3/8″
- Hand: 9 1/8″
- Position: Cornerback
- School: Rutgers
- Current Year: Senior
It didn’t take long for Melton to separate himself upon arriving on Rutgers’ campus.
Melton — the younger brother of Green Bay Packers WR Bo Melton — logged notable defensive reps as a true freshman in 2020. And in the three years since, he never wavered as a high-level coverage defender.
Across the three-year stretch from 2021 to 2023, Melton amassed 90 tackles, including 7.5 for loss and one sack, eight interceptions, 22 total pass deflections, four fumble recoveries, and a forced fumble.
At a Rutgers program that’s produced high-quality NFL defensive backs like Logan Ryan and Christian Izien, Melton set himself apart, and that trend carried on with a strong Senior Bowl showing.
Max Melton established himself as a high-level coverage defender with @RFootball, and there's a LOT for NFL teams to like. 😤#GoRU | #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/48Fou0FMWV
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) April 15, 2024
On the doorstep of the 2024 NFL Draft, Melton is experiencing a rapid ascent. He blew the doors off the NFL Combine in Indianapolis with a 4.39-second 40-yard dash, a 40.5″ vertical, and an 11’4″ broad jump — the latter of which is better than 99.7% of CBs ever to test.
Melton is long, fast, and explosive — but his mentality is just as enticing for NFL teams. On the field, he’s fast-flowing and physical, and in interviews, his laser-like focus and passion for the game are clear. How does it all come together for Melton as a prospect?
Melton’s Scouting Report
Strengths
- Has a well-sized, wiry frame, with the proportional length to get inside WRs’ frames.
- Carries elite explosiveness upfield and has the long-strider speed to erase gaps.
- Searing explosiveness allows him to quickly recover leverage and stick to hip pockets.
- Fleet-footed, energetic short-area mover who glides while playing low in his stance.
- Has the sharp hip flexibility and hinge fluidity to divert 90 degrees and trail vertically.
- Has hyper-elite recovery capacity with his short-area burst and full swivel flexibility.
- Snappy lower-body elasticity allows him to quickly recalibrate his base in close quarters.
- Aggressive press-man CB who can levy ruthless two-hand jams and disrupt releases.
- Despite aggression, often uses feet first, matching and keeping WRs within his frame.
- Can crowd WRs inside their frame moving vertically, pinching them against the sideline.
- Able to backpedal and vary his technique in off-man while matching route leverage.
- Flashes keen eyes in zone, hawking in front of passes with the ball skills to high-point.
- Has the mobility and versatility to play the boundary or the slot at a high level.
- Voracious blitzing threat who invades creases with speed and chases down plays.
- Competitive support defender who uses length to encumber and pry through blocks.
Weaknesses
- Visibly lacks high-end play strength and can be forced out of optimal route leverage.
- With high-energy movement, can be prone to wasted motion and false steps.
- With speed, sometimes overruns route breaks and gives up space at stems.
- Can be more disciplined with route leverage and positioning on crossing concepts.
- Sometimes halts his feet at stems when attempting to catch, letting WRs blow by.
- Footwork can be a bit choppy in zone, causing slight delays in transitions and triggers.
- Is sometimes reckless with physicality past the contact window, inviting penalty risk.
- Inconsistent application of physicality can disrupt his timing at stems and the catch.
- Can occasionally be a tick late to plant and drive on out routes and digs.
- Sometimes bites too early on double moves with aggressive playmaking urge.
- Could, at times, be quicker to turn his head and track the football working vertically.
- Leaner frame can make him easier to displace with proper blocking power application.
- Can be more consistent in wrapping up and making tackles in pursuit.
Current Draft Projection and Summary
Melton grades out as a top-50 prospect in the 2024 NFL Draft. He’s worth early-to-mid Day 2 capital and could be a surprise Round 1 pick. He has scheme versatility across press-man, off-man, and zone looks and he has flexibility between the slot and the boundary.
At 5’11” and 193 pounds, with 32″ arms, Melton has an incredibly unique frame — one that brings the benefits of both a smaller and larger cornerback. He plays low in his stance and is extremely fleet-footed, agile, and elastic — but he also has a wide disruption radius and the long-strider speed to chew up space and erase gaps.
Melton’s elite combination of explosiveness, twitch, hinge, swivel fluidity, and long speed makes him a tantalizing coverage prospect with incredible upside. He can effortlessly match WRs and recover positioning off releases, and his speed makes him a leverage bandit late in reps.
On top of his physical foundation, Melton is extremely physical and tenacious, with the aggressiveness to both interrupt releases and enforce in support. He can pry through blocks with his length or function as a dynamic blitzing threat, and his versatility between the slot and the boundary only compounds his appeal.
Technically, there’s still room for Melton to keep refining his profile. With his high-energy motion, he can be prone to wasted motion and inefficient footwork in man coverage, and he can also be more efficient in zone.
KEEP READING: Top CBs in the 2024 NFL Draft
Going further, over-aggression can be a problem for Melton at times, both with his applied physicality and trigger. He’ll sometimes grab past the contact window or disrupt his own catch-point timing with late jams, and he also gets burnt looking for the big play at times.
Nevertheless, if Melton can keep striving toward an ideal balance between patience and aggressiveness, he has the elite physical tools, competitive zeal, and playmaking prowess to be an impact starter with an exciting role and scheme versatility at the CB position.
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