Max Melton CB Rutgers | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
Max Melton CB Rutgers
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| ROLE: Outside Man/Press CB | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 04/21/2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 40 time: 4.39 seconds (86%*) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowl Invite: Senior Bowl | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| ROLE: Outside Man/Press CB | |
| Last Updated: 04/21/2024 | |
| Draft Year: 2024 | |
| 40 time: 4.39 seconds (86%*) | |
| Bowl Invite: Senior Bowl | |
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SHARE THIS PROFILE:
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| Overall Rating: | 85.4 / 100 | |
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| Average rating of opposition Offense player has faced | ||
| Offense Rating: |
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84% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| QB Rating When targeted: | 73.0 | |
| Tackling: |
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51% |
| Run Defense: |
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72% |
| Coverage: |
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79% |
| Zone: |
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72% |
| Man/Press: |
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81% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
2nd - Late
Overall Rank:
#65
Position rank:
#13
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| College Games: 43 College Snaps: 2040 | ||
ESPN RATING: 75/100
College Combine Results
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247 RATING: 86/100
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RIVALS RATING: 5.6 (92%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Tyrique Stevenson - Miami (FL) |
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83% |
| Andrew Booth Jr. - Clemson |
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81% |
| Jakorian Bennett - Maryland |
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76% |
Draft Profile: Bio
Coming from a family with a rich athletic background at Rutgers, Max Melton has carved out his own path in college football. With both parents being former Rutgers athletes and a brother currently playing in the NFL, Melton's football journey is both inspired and motivated by his family's sports legacy.In 2020 as a freshman Melton saw action in 9 games and played a total of 354 snaps at cornerback for the Scarlet Knights. He recorded 24 tackles, one assist, while adding 7 stops. In coverage Melton notched up one pass breakup, no interceptions, and QB rating when targetted of 88.9.
As a sophomore in 2021 he played in 10 games and logged 487 snaps for the Scarlet Knights. He made 23 tackles, 5 assists, and had 2 stops. In coverage he totaled 6 pass breakups, 3 interceptions, and QB rating when targetted of 92.3.
In 2022 as a junior Melton played in 12 games and contributed on 577 snaps. He chalked up 25 tackles, 6 assists, and added 9 stops. In the secondary Melton forced 6 pass breakups, 2 interceptions, and gave up QB rating when targetted of 84.8.
In 2023 as a senior Melton saw action in 12 games while playing 622 snaps. He logged 26 tackles, 7 assists, and made 10 stops. In coverage Melton had 3 pass breakups, 3 interceptions, and surrendered QB rating when targetted of 65.7.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Elite quick twitch athlete - put up a 99 percentile Broad jump, 94 percentile Vertical, and a 4.39 forty at the combine.
- Displays excellent awareness in zone coverage, able to read the quarterback's eyes and anticipate routes effectively.
- Physical and aggressive in the run game, not shying away from contact and demonstrating the ability to disrupt plays in the backfield.
- Exhibits a high motor and competitive spirit, consistently giving full effort and displaying tenacity on every play.
- Strong ball skills, capable of making dynamic plays on the football and flipping the field with turnovers.
- Good size and length, enabling effective press coverage and the ability to contest catches against taller receivers.
- Instinctive player with keen eyes for diagnosing plays, excels when playing with vision towards the quarterback.
- Has shown significant improvement year over year, highlighting a strong work ethic and the capacity for continued development at the next level.
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Technique can sometimes be overly aggressive or sloppy, leading to compromised positions and potential penalties.
- Can be prone to biting on double moves or getting caught watching the quarterback too long, resulting in missed opportunities to disrupt the play.
- Needs to improve tackling consistency and angles in run support to maximize effectiveness in the NFL.
- Footwork and transitions can sometimes be inefficient, indicating areas for technical refinement to enhance coverage skills.
Scouting Report: Summary
Max Melton enters the NFL Draft as a scheme-versatile DB with a skill set that resonates well in the league's current defensive paradigms. With fluid hips, aggressive press coverage capabilities, and a high football IQ for zone reads, Melton demonstrates the foundational traits defensive coordinators covet. His ability to disrupt at the line, coupled with an instinctual knack for ball tracking, positions him as a plug-and-play option in nickel packages or as a boundary corner. Nonetheless, evaluators must weigh his rawness in transition mechanics and occasional missteps in deep coverage against his physical upside and on-field production.Melton's tape reveals a competitor with a non-stop motor and an appetite for physical play, particularly in run support where he's not afraid to lower the shoulder. This tenacity, combined with his ball-hawking tendencies, elevates his profile. Yet, the technical refinement needed in his backpedal and break, alongside the propensity to gamble and occasionally lose leverage against savvy route runners, underscores areas ripe for professional coaching. His ceiling is high, but refinement in these areas will be critical for translating collegiate success to the NFL stage.
In sum, Max Melton's draft narrative is one of high potential tempered by the need for technical polish. His toolkit is brimming with NFL-ready attributes: size, agility, and a palpable competitive edge that can energize a secondary unit. Coaches with a penchant for molding raw talent could unlock Melton's Pro Bowl potential, especially if they can hone his technique and situational awareness.
Max Melton percentiles vs other Cornerbacks (NFL Combine historically - higher value represents better perfomance)
How other scouting services rate Max Melton (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
75.3
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
22.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.