Many prospects stand up draft boards yearly, normally on account of some predraft course of elevating their standing. Whether or not it’s the All-Star sport circuit, the NFL Mix, Professional Days or non-public conferences, their work predraft will get them in greater standings with NFL groups.
One of many largest jumps from a prospect this yr is from Malachi “Max” Melton. Right here’s what you could find out about Melton:
Background
Melton wasn’t a prestigious draftee. Popping out of New Jersey, Melton was only a three-star recruit — solely having gives from Purdue, Temple, Rutgers, and Massachusetts College. Initially, Melton dedicated to Purdue however modified his thoughts earlier than signing day, selecting to attend Rutgers as an alternative to play together with his brother, large receiver Bo Melton (a seventh-round choose within the 2022 NFL Draft who’s at present on the Packers.
Melton has been a significant contributor for 4 years, enjoying 41 video games and a couple of,040 snaps over 4 seasons, together with his lowest being 354 as a freshman. Nonetheless, his stat profile isn’t overwhelming, with solely eight interceptions and 16 go breakups over 4 years. Melton was an honorable point out for the All-Large Ten workforce the previous two seasons.
The place Melton stood out was his efficiency on the NFL Mix. Melton doesn’t have overwhelming measurement or weight, coming in at 5’11 (forty second percentile) and 187 lbs (twenty seventh percentile). Nonetheless, his size is phenomenal, measuring with 31 1/8” arms (seventy fifth percentile) and 76 5/8” wingspan (67th percentile). Melton additionally did nicely within the athletic testing, posting a 4.39 40-yard sprint time (83rd percentile) and 1.51 10-yard break up (73rd percentile). He additionally jumped 40.5” within the vertical bounce (91st percentile) and 136” within the broad bounce (98th percentile).
Movie analysis
Max Melton (#16), CB, Rutgers
– Elite,elite pace and explosiveness, dominates on a vertical path- Slot expertise/versatility- Keen to border blocks and match run/tackle- DAWG- Has good size, will not lose on outside- Jams at LoS have actual energy/knock- Explosive downhill pic.twitter.com/hvrN3ZY2Ed
— Nate Christensen (@natech32) April 18, 2024
Melton’s athletic presents present on movie. First, he understands the power of his size. Melton likes to jam on the line of scrimmage, get into the frames of large receivers — and knock them off stability. His size permits him to do that, however he additionally has underrated power and physicality. Melton has no points placing his physique into somebody and making them work.
That model of play may be increase or bust, however Melton has the pace to compensate for it. Melton isn’t probably the most agile athlete, however his pace and explosiveness in a straight line are incredible. Together with his pace, he can experience a jam down a sideline and path any large receiver. It’s laborious to get off of Melton together with your route since he’ll keep so tight to the stem and infrequently will get blown by together with his pace.
Melton primarily performs on the skin, however Rutgers would dabble in placing Melton within the slot. He’s athletic and bodily sufficient additionally to play man protection towards slot receivers, however he’s additionally an underrated run defender. Melton is keen to hit. He’ll lay some large hits, even framing up working backs and knocking them down by himself. He additionally works to get off blocks. Watching Melton make some enormous hits was one in all my favourite clips of this draft season.
How he matches with the Chiefs
Melton could be a super exterior cornerback for the Chiefs. He has the size the Chiefs covet from their exterior cornerbacks, in addition to the physicality and need to play man protection. A trademark of the Chiefs cornerbacks is how bodily they’re in man protection, knocking large receivers off their ft with their physicality. Melton may do this. The Chiefs additionally crave cornerbacks who will sort out, and Melton is excellent at that. He’s a good bit skinnier than some guys the Chiefs have had, however together with his size and total talent set, I don’t suppose that may be a significant component in his analysis course of.
The underside line
Melton is at present my CB3. I do know that’s outrageous, however I’m very excessive on him. His athletic testing and size put him on the radar for me, however watching his movie made me admire his talents. He didn’t have a prestigious faculty profession with honors or stats, however whenever you watch him on movie, you see all of the potential for him to be a very good man protection cornerback within the NFL.
I feel Melton’s slot in Kansas Metropolis could be unbelievable. The Chiefs have gone out of their option to pursue and draft cornerbacks with size, pace, and the willingness to play man protection. Additionally they search for cornerbacks who need to play very bodily and sort out. Melton is nice in any respect of these issues. He could also be a bit skinnier than a few of the cornerbacks the Chiefs like, however every little thing on movie suggests his match to Kansas Metropolis could be seamless.
There’s a purpose Melton is rising up draft boards and mock drafts, and it’s not simply his athletic testing; he’s a very good soccer participant, too.
Grade: Spherical 2
