The Arizona Cardinals selected Rutgers cornerback Max Melton in the second round of the NFL Draft on Friday night, adding a much-needed piece to a porous defense.

An NFL scout tells the NFL Analysis Network that the Cardinals picked up a steal.

“Max Melton is a guy that I absolutely love,” the scout said. “The Cardinals need playmakers in the secondary and that is exactly what Melton brings. He’s going to bring a ton of energy to that defense. Arizona quietly just made one of the biggest steals of the second round.”

Melton was the last of four straight cornerbacks selected in Round 2 of the draft, with Arizona taking him at No. 43.

The 22-year-old is coming off of a 2023 campaign in which he racked up 32 tackles, four tackles for loss, a sack, three interceptions, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and six passes defended.

Melton arrived at Rutgers in 2020 and played in seven games, logging 21 tackles and a fumble recovery. The following year, his role grew, and he totaled 25 stops, three picks, a fumble recovery, five passes defended and a defensive touchdown. He went on to register 33 tackles, a couple of interceptions and 10 passes defended.

The Cardinals finished 25th in the NFL in yards allowed and second to last in scoring defense this past season, so defense is certainly an area the club needed to address this offseason. Arizona selected Missouri defensive end Darius Robinson in the first round of the draft on Thursday evening.

The Cardinals went 4-13 this past year.

We’ll see if Max Melton can immediately contribute in Arizona’s secondary next season.

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