Max Melton
Melton with Rutgers in 2023 | |||||||||
| No. 16 – Arizona Cardinals | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Cornerback | ||||||||
| Roster status | Active | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born | April 15, 2002 Mays Landing, New Jersey, U.S. | ||||||||
| Listed height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||||||||
| Listed weight | 187 lb (85 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school | Cedar Creek (Egg Harbor City, New Jersey) | ||||||||
| College | Rutgers (2020–2023) | ||||||||
| NFL draft | 2024: 2nd round, 43rd overall pick | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics as of 2025 | |||||||||
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Malachi "Max" Melton (born April 15, 2002) is an American professional football cornerback for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights and was selected by the Cardinals in the second round of the 2024 NFL draft.
Early life
Melton grew up in the Mays Landing section of Hamilton Township, Atlantic County, New Jersey and attended Cedar Creek High School. Melton initially committed to play college football at Purdue over offers from Rutgers and Temple.[1] He flipped his commitment to Rutgers during his senior year.[2]
College career
Melton played in nine games with six starts during his freshman season with the Rutgers Scarlet Knights and made 21 tackles.[3] He started ten games at cornerback as a sophomore and had 28 tackles with three interceptions and six passes broken up.[4] Melton missed three games due to a suspension.[5] He was named honorable mention All-Big Ten Conference after recording 33 tackles with two tackles for loss, two interceptions, and ten passes broken up.[6]
Professional career
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | Wingspan | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) |
187 lb (85 kg) |
32+1⁄8 in (0.82 m) |
9+1⁄8 in (0.23 m) |
6 ft 4+5⁄8 in (1.95 m) |
4.39 s | 1.51 s | 2.56 s | 4.29 s | 6.95 s | 40.5 in (1.03 m) |
11 ft 4 in (3.45 m) |
16 reps |
| All values from NFL Combine/Pro Day[7][8] | ||||||||||||
Melton was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the second round with the 43rd overall pick of the 2024 NFL draft.[9]
NFL career statistics
| Legend | |
|---|---|
| Bold | Career high |
Regular season
| Year | Team | Games | Tackles | Interceptions | Fumbles | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Cmb | Solo | Ast | Sck | TFL | Int | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | PD | FF | Fum | FR | Yds | TD | ||
| 2024 | ARI | 17 | 3 | 51 | 36 | 15 | 0.0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2025 | ARI | 10 | 8 | 31 | 21 | 10 | 0.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Career | 27 | 11 | 82 | 57 | 25 | 0.0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Personal life
Melton's father, Gary, played football at Rutgers and his mother, Vicky, played on the women's basketball team.[10] His older brother, Bo Melton, played wide receiver at Rutgers and currently plays in the NFL for the Green Bay Packers.[3] Another brother, Gary Jr., played football at Delaware State.[11] Older sister Jasmine lives in South Jersey near their childhood home.
References
- ^ Anastasia, Phil (July 17, 2019). "Recruiting: Cedar Creek football star Malachi Melton commits to Purdue". Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
- ^ Hunt, Todderick (December 11, 2019). "Rutgers flips legacy Malachi Melton from Purdue for Greg Schiano's 4th pledge since return". NJ.com. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
- ^ a b "How Rutgers football Max Melton learns from brother Bo Melton". Asbury Park Press. September 16, 2021. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
- ^ Dyer, Kristian (February 10, 2022). "Rutgers defensive back Max Melton ranked as a potential defensive breakout star". Rutgers Wire. USA Today. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
- ^ "Rutgers suspends CBs Max Melton, Chris Long after paintball gun incident". The Athletic. September 21, 2021. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
- ^ "Rutgers football team has top prospects for 2024 NFL Draft". Asbury Park Press. May 2, 2023. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
- ^ "Max Melton Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
- ^ "2024 NFL Draft Scout Max Melton College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
- ^ Urban, Darren (April 26, 2024). "Cardinals Take Max Melton With Second-Round Pick". azcardinals.com. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
- ^ Sargeant, Keith (September 8, 2021). "Their blood runs Scarlet: How the bond between Bo and Max Melton (and their parents) fuels Rutgers". NJ.com. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
- ^ Mulranen, Patrick (May 7, 2021). "Rutgers, Melton brothers well-represented on Black Horse Pike". Press of Atlantic City. Retrieved May 7, 2023.