Arizona Cardinals Year 2 player outlook: CB Max Melton
Arizona Cardinals Year 2 player outlook: CB Max Melton A look 2024 second-round pick Max Melton and his second-year outlook in 2025
The Arizona Cardinals drafted 12 players in 2024. Some of them had contributions as rookies. Some will have greater roles in 2025. Others will have to battle for the roster.
They selected cornerback Max Melton in the second round.
Entering Year 2 in the NFL, let's have a look at his 2025 outlook.
CB Max Melton's 2024 season
Melton played a lot but was not a starter. He played in all 17 games but was basically the Cardinals' fourth cornerback, using him in a three-man rotation on the boundary with Sean Murphy-Bunting and Star Thomas.
He started three times. He had 51 total tackles, five pass breakups and a forced fumble in 565 defensive snaps.
Max Melton's Year 2 outlook in 2025
Murphy-Bunting injured his knee in the offseason and is out for the year, so it would seem that Melton would slide into a starting role, playing opposite Thomas with Garrett Williams in the slot. But the Cardinals added Will Johnson in the second round of this year's draft, a player with elite talent, so Melton might be in the same boat last year.
At minimum, he will be in the rotation as the third boundary corner, playing as much as he did last season. At best, he will move into a full-time starting role, being the player on the field the most of the trio of him, Johnson and Thomas.
Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.
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