Max Melton could be diamond in the rough for Steelers

With the departure of Patrick Peterson and Levi Wallace’s apparent animosity towards the organization, the Steelers are clearly in need of help at cornerback. It is reasonable to assume they will acquire someone in free agency; however I am not holding my breath in anticipation for them to go get a cornerstone in free agency this year. I am under the impression it’ll be a capable starter but looking for someone on a team-friendly deal. I would also imagine they will use one of their picks in the upcoming draft to try and address the growing need they have on the outside. There is a litany of good cornerback prospects in the draft this year, and the Steelers will have their chance to draft many of them. However, I am hoping they will remain patient throughout the draft and not rush to select a cornerback too early. One mid-late round prospect, with NFL ties in his family, has caught my attention after his combine performance.

Max Melton, out of Rutgers and brother of Packers receiver Bo Melton, had himself an impressive combine performance following a good senior season in Piscataway, New Jersey. The fourth-team All-Big Ten selection is used to playing cold weather, bruising football in the Big Ten just like he would be asked to do in the AFC North. This past year he compiled:

TOT:32

TFL:4

Sacks:1

PBU:6

INT:3

FF:1

FR:1

His combine measurables and results were even more impressive:

Height: 5’11

Weight: 187

Arm Length: 32 ⅛”

Hand Size: 9 ⅛”

40 Yard Dash: 4.39

Vertical Jump: 40.5”

Broad Jump: 11’4”

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NFL Combine Score:

Production Score (Position Rank): 63 (30th)

Athleticism Score (Position Rank): 88 (3rd)

Total Score (Position Rank): 76 (8th)

Melton has successfully showcased his NFL-ready athleticism. While he lacked more in the production category he makes up for it with his projected potential under the right coaching and the right circumstances. One of his biggest issues is being over-aggressive at the catch point and allowing completions and committing penalties, but to quote our leader Coach Tomlin “I’d rather say Whoa, than sic’ em”.

You can teach a young player when the right and wrong time is to be ultra-aggressive in the pursuit of making a play, but you can’t teach a player to have an innate awareness to make a game-changing play. Given the current landscape of the position, Melton would go into training camp with the immediate opportunity to earn himself some playing time. He can play both on the outside and in the slot making him even more valuable to a team with a defensive system like the Steelers. Khan and Weidl are going to need to hit on their draft selections in a big way if the Steelers have real aspirations of contending in the AFC, finding a guy with the potential and upside that Melton has in the 3rd-4th round would be a major acquisition from them.