The NFC West has put a team in the conference championship game four out of the last six years. One team in the division landed a gem in the draft.
The NFC West’s Top Draft Gem
Arizona Cardinals: Max Melton – CB Rutgers
Few teams had a better draft haul than the Arizona Cardinals. After hitting the reset button on their roster last off-season, the Cardinals are inching closer to relevancy in the NFC. The division is tough, but Arizona did enough in the draft to make up ground in the NFC West and appears ready to contend. While Marvin Harrison Jr. is the headliner of their 2024 class, Max Melton is a name to watch in Arizona. The Rutgers product is a converted wide receiver with exceptional ball skills. His brother Bo plays receiver for the Packers, and his father also played football for Rutgers. His mother was a basketball player in college. The athletic genes didn’t skip Max, and he stood out at Rutgers for his playmaking ability on the ball.
For the Cardinals, Melton gives them a much-needed physical presence at cornerback. He logged 40 starts at cornerback in his college career, and his experience should help him make a smoother transition to the NFL. Melton’s contributions go beyond defense. At Rutgers, he was an impact player on special teams as well. Arizona overachieved last season on defense and enters the 2024 season with a handful of new projected starters. The secondary has been overhauled, allowing Melton to compete for a starting spot immediately. Melton’s versatility makes him a valuable addition to the defense, and Jonathan Gannon should be able to put him in the best position to succeed. With how late the Cardinals drafted Melton, he’s got a strong chance of being the top draft gem in the NFC West.
Honorable Mention: Jacob Cowing – WR Arizona
The San Francisco 49ers emphasized adding to their receiver room in the NFL Draft. Although the team reached for Ricky Pearsall in the first round, they made up for it by drafting Cowing in the fourth round. Both receivers fit what the 49ers like to do on offense, but the value they got by waiting to pick Cowing could make him one of the top draft gems in the division. Cowing played at UTEP before transferring to Arizona, and he appeared in 58 games during his college career (per sports-reference). His quickness and escapability in the open field make him a strong addition to San Francisco’s offense.
The 49ers rely heavily on motion and Kyle Shanahan likes to involve his receivers by using them on jet sweeps and out of the backfield. Cowing could quickly find a complementary role, especially in short-yardage situations. His best traits are his burst and toughness when taking on tackles. Cowing will compete with Juwan Jennings, Ronnie Bell, and others for a role behind Pearsall, Brandon Aiyuk, and Deebo Samuel. With how much Shanahan likes to diversify his offense, there’s a good chance Cowing will carve out a role sooner rather than later in San Francisco. The scheme fit for the 49ers makes Cowing one of the top draft gems in the NFC West.
Main Photo: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
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