Max Melton

NoteCARDS:

• Selected by the Cardinals in the second round (43rd overall) of the 2024 NFL Draft out of Rutgers. He is just the fourth ever player selected out of Rutgers by the Cardinals and the second in the last 73 years.
• He is the highest draft pick out of Rutgers since 2010 when DB Devin McCourty went 27th overall to the Patriots.
• His brother, Bo, currently plays WR for the Packers. Their father, Gary, also played football at Rutgers.
• One of three cornerbacks selected by the Cardinals in the 2024 NFL Draft, joining Elijah Jones and Jaden Davis. That is the most corners for Arizona in a single draft since 1991.

NoteCARDS:

• Selected by the Cardinals in the second round (43rd overall) of the 2024 NFL Draft out of Rutgers. He is just the fourth ever player selected out of Rutgers by the Cardinals and the second in the last 73 years.
• He is the highest draft pick out of Rutgers since 2010 when DB Devin McCourty went 27th overall to the Patriots.
• His brother, Bo, currently plays WR for the Packers. Their father, Gary, also played football at Rutgers.
• One of three cornerbacks selected by the Cardinals in the 2024 NFL Draft, joining Elijah Jones and Jaden Davis. That is the most corners for Arizona in a single draft since 1991.

College Career:

Played four seasons (2020-23) at Rutgers where he was a two-time All-Big Ten selection … in his college career, played 44 games (40 starts) and finished with 114 tackles, eight INTs (one returned for a TD), 22 passes defensed, nine tackles for loss, four fumble recoveries, a forced fumble and a sack … also blocked four punts and returned three punts for 61 yards.

2023: Earned All-Big Ten honors for the second consecutive season after starting 12-of-13 games and leading the team with three INTs … totaled 32 tackles, six passes defensed, four tackles for loss, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and a sack … had his first career sack vs. Michigan State (10/14) … had an INT and a tackle for loss @ #22 Iowa (11/11) … had an INT in his final college game vs. Maryland (11/25).

2022: Started all 12 games and earned All-Big Ten honors … led the nation with three blocked punts … added 33 tackles, two INTs, 10 passes defensed (second most on team), two tackles for loss and one fumble recovery … also returned a pair of punts for 47 yards … his 12 passes defensed were tied for the seventh most in the conference … recovered a fumble @ #3 Ohio State (10/1) … blocked a punt that led to a TD vs. #4 Michigan (11/5) … had a career-high three passes defensed vs. #11 Penn State (11/19).

2021: Started all 10 games … led the team with three INTs, including one returned for a TD … had 28 tackles, six passes defensed (second most on team), two tackles for loss and a fumble recovery … added a blocked punt and a 14-yard punt return … returned an INT 46 yards for a TD in the season opener vs. Temple (9/4) … had an INT, a fumble recovery and a blocked punt the following week in a win @ Syracuse (9/11) … posted five tackles with a pass defensed in the Gator Bowl vs. #20 Wake Forest (12/31).

2020: Appeared in nine games and made six starts … finished with 21 tackles (one for loss) and one fumble recovery … had six tackles in his collegiate debut @ Michigan State (10/24) … had four tackles in his first college start @ #3 Ohio State (11/7).

Personal:

Attended Cedar Creek (Egg Harbor City, NY) High School where he played WR and CB … helped guide the Pirates to a 10-3 record and a Regional Championship appearance as a senior … named second- team All-New Jersey by USA Today Network, All-South Jersey by the Philadelphia Inquirer and First Team All-Star on defense by the Press of Atlantic City in 2019 … caught 60 passes for 785 yards and seven TDs, while rushing for 211 yards and a TD as a senior ... majored in Criminal Justice.