Category: Knights in the NFL

New England Patriots sign former Rutgers football wide receiver

JaQuae Jackson has signed with the New England Patriots.

After a brief stint with the Atlanta Falcons, JaQuae Jackson has found a new home. The former Rutgers wide receiver was signed by the New England Patriots on Thursday.

The Falcons had waived Jackson to open up a roster spot for Andrew Stueber, who was signed on Wednesday. Jackson spent one season with Rutgers, joining the Big Ten program out of the transfer portal.

His one season of Power Five football helped him to this platform and chance in the NFL, now with the Patriots.

While Jackson went undrafted before joining Atlanta, he was a productive piece for Rutgers during the 2023 campaign. He appeared in 13 games and recorded 361 receiving yards, the second most on the team. Before his stint at Rutgers, Jackson recorded 2120 receiving yards in three seasons at Pennsylvania Western University California.

New Patriots WR JaQuae Jackson had 361 receiving yards on 22 catches with 1 touchdown at Rutgers last season.

He finished 9th in the country in receiving yards in Division II in 2022 with 1,178 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns on 77 receptions at California (PA). https://t.co/RaKhTieRIN pic.twitter.com/TaPhr8t5Bk

— Matt St. Jean (@mattstdream) June 6, 2024

Over the last few months, the Patriots have been busy reshaping their wide receiver room. That includes signing K.J. Osborn to a one-year deal and using two draft picks, Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker, on wide receivers. After struggling to score last year, the Patriots have tried to weaponize their offseason.

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While Jackson will have to battle for playing time, he was a reliable wide receiver in college. He averaged 27.8 yards a game in the Big Ten and found the end zone once. Although those numbers don’t jump off the page, Jackson was able to have success while Rutgers quarterbacks finished with the lowest completion percentage in the Big Ten.

With the Patriots embarking on a new era, Jackson will be looking to show that he can make an impact and carve out a role.

What did Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon say about Max Melton’s camp showing?

Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon praises Max Melton.

During the process leading up to the NFL draft, the Arizona Cardinals were impressed with the physicality that defensive back Max Melton showed during his time at Rutgers.

And that tenacity helped land the All-Big Ten performer at Rutgers with the Cardinals in the second round.

Melton finished his four years at Rutgers with 113 total tackles, eight interceptions, 20 pass breakups, one forced fumble, and four fumble recoveries in 43 games. He was selected to multiple All-Big Ten teams during his Scarlet Knights career.

Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon spoke last week about what Melton stand out in the process leading up to his selection at No. 43 overall.

“He plays with a certain amount of violence – that was one thing that attracted us on his tape,” Gannon told reporters last week.

“That’s one of the things he likes and is good at and I’m sure he’ll want to put all full gear on but not today.”

 

Gannon is set for his second season with the Cardinals following a 4-13 year in 2023.

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Melton comes to a spot with Arizona where he projects to see plenty of playing time. Last week, NFL Network analyst Brian Baldinger spoke about Melton and compared him to an All-Pro cornerback who is one of the best in the league:

“I mean, he just loves to compete. And honestly, when I watch him, he reminds me of a very young Darius Slay – they are almost identical in all their measurements,” Baldinger told Rutgers Wire in an interview last week.

“Max….is not as tall but every bit as fast.  I mean all the measurables are very, very consistent and when I watched Darius as a young player in Detroit, I remember how aggressive. He wasn’t the tackler that Max is but he would challenge any receiver. If he was scrimmaging Pittsburgh he wanted Antonio Brown every play. So that’s kind of what it reminds me of Max = he wants their number one receiver inside, outside, wherever you are. And I think that’s what Arizona was getting. I think that’s what they liked about him.”

 

Miami Dolphins signed former Rutgers offensive lineman Ireland Brown

After a successful rookie minicamp tryout, the Miami Dolphins signed former Rutgers offensive lineman Ireland Brown to their 90-man roster.

After a successful rookie minicamp, the Miami Dolphins signed former Rutgers football offensive lineman Ireland Brown to their 90-man roster. More than two dozen players tried out for the Dolphins’ rookie minicamp, with Brown being the only one turning his tryout into an opportunity.

Brown played in eight games for the Scarlet Knights last season, taking part in an offensive line that led the Big Ten in fewest sacks allowed per game (1.08) and ranked fifth in the league in rushing (168.7).

The former Scarlet Knight was selected to the Reese’s Senior Bowl watch list heading into the 2023 season. According to PFF, Brown earned a 90.5 grade while playing 62 snaps as a senior.

In 2022, Brown started 11 games at center, helping the Rutgers’ offense total 460 yards at Michigan State. In the same season, Brown earned the Mark Mills Second Effort Award as the most improved offensive player during spring practice.

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Brown began his collegiate career as a defensive tackle at Boston College before transferring to Rutgers.

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While playing at Boston College, Brown appeared in nine games at the defensive tackle position. He recorded six total tackles (four solo, two assisted) on the season. When he transferred to Rutgers in 2020, Brown played five games on the defensive line, recording three tackles and one sack.

He played on the defensive side of the ball with the Scarlet Knights for one season before moving to the offensive line in 2021. As a sophomore in 2021, Brown played in nine games with six starts at left guard for the Scarlet Knights.

 

 

 

 

Which All-Pro cornerback did Brian Baldinger just compare Rutgers’ Max Melton to?

NFL Network’s Brian Baldinger made a Pro Bowl comparison for Max Melton.

NFL Network analyst Brian Baldinger has hesitation in comparing Max Melton to one of the NFL’s top cornerbacks in Darius Slay. Melton, a former defensive back at Rutgers, landed in a spot with the Cardinals in the NFL draft where he projects to get a lot of snaps.

The Cardinals selected Melton in the second round of April’s NFL draft, taking him No. 43 overall. At Rutgers, Melton was a multi-year starter who was an All-Big Ten selection at defensive back.

Baldinger, an analyst with the NFL Network who spent 12 years in the NFL as a standout offensive lineman, believes that Melton is a good fit with the Cardinals.

And he likened Melton to Slay, an All-Pro cornerback with the Philadelphia Eagles who has been a Pro Bowl selection six times in his NFL career.

“I mean, he just loves to compete. And honestly, when I watch him, he reminds me of a very young Darius Slay – they are almost identical in all their measurements,” Baldinger told Rutgers Wire in an interview last week.

“Max….is not as tall but every bit as fast.  I mean all the measurables are very, very consistent and when I watched Darius as a young player in Detroit, I remember how aggressive. He wasn’t the tackler that Max is but he would challenge any receiver. If he was scrimmaging Pittsburgh he wanted Antonio Brown every play. So that’s kind of what it reminds me of Max = he wants their number one receiver inside, outside, wherever you are. And I think that’s what Arizona was getting. I think that’s what they liked about him.”

This past season, Rutgers had a halftime lead over Ohio State before falling 35-16. One of the reasons why Rutgers very nearly upset the third-best team in the nation at the time was Melton’s performance against [autotag]Marvin Harrison Jr[/autotag].

Harrison, ironically a first round pick of the Cardinals, won the Fred Biletnikoff Award last year last year as college football’s best wide receiver.

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Melton held Harrison to four catches for 25 receiving yards. It was the Ohio State standout’s second-lowest receiving tally of the season.

Baldinger thinks Melton landed in the NFL draft in a spot where he can be developed and compete for playing time.

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“I thought he went to a good spot, number one, Arizona has built this thing piece by piece. I thought it was pretty interesting – he went at No. 43,” Baldinger said.

“Cooper DeJean, who a lot of people thought was a top three corner – he went 40. So it looks like (Melton) is in the top five. I mean, I thought he was a good player. I mean, obviously, he’s very, very aggressive. He’s a very good tackler. He refuses to be blocked on the perimeter. But I think his ball skills are as good as anybody in this whole business. And you know, he really challenges receiver – Marvin Harrison right up in his grill. He looks like he’s got the mindset to be a very good corner in this business.”

NFL GM (now an ESPN analyst) on NFL draft pick Max Melton’s fit with the Cardinals

Mike Tannebaum sees Max Melton as a good fit in the NFL.

Max Melton became the latest Rutgers football draft pick when the Arizona Cardinals took the cornerback in the second round of the NFL draft. And one former NFL general manager, who is now an ESPN analyst, sees Melton as a good fit with the Cardinals.

Melton, the No. 43 overall pick in last week’s NFL draft, goes to Arizona with multiple years of starting at Rutgers.

Melton had a strong four years at Rutgers where he had 113 total tackles, eight interceptions, 20 pass breakups, one forced fumble, and four fumble recoveries across 43 games. His NFL draft prospects took a significant upswing this offseason following a strong week at the Senior Bowl as well as running a 4.39 time in the 40 at the NFL combine.

Former NFL general manager Mike Tannenbaum, now an analyst with ESPN, likes the fit of Melton with the Cardinals.

“He’s a great athlete, with starting potential, excellent pick by the Cardinals,” Tannenbaum told Rutgers Wire.

Tannenbaum is a former NFL general manager who is best known for building the New York Jets into a team that made consecutive AFC Championship Game appearances. He drafted players such as Hall of Fame cornerback Darrelle Revis and Nick Mangold, who was three times an All-Pro selection at center.

He now works as analyst for ESPN where he covers the NFL.

Melton was a member of the Rutgers 2020 recruiting class. He committed to Rutgers shortly after the return of head coach Greg Schiano to the program.

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He was a three-star recruit and the No. 22 player in New Jersey according to 247Sports.

With the Cardinals, Melton has the chance to factor into the two-deep immediately. The Cardinals have a need at cornerback and Melton should factor into a role in the team’s secondary.

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He is the younger brother of [autotag]Bo Melton[/autotag], a wide receiver with the Green Bay Packers.

What will the Arizona Cardinals get with NFL draft pick Max Melton? A film review

Max Melton should be an instant contributor for the Arizona Cardinals.

On Friday, Rutgers football Max Melton was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals with the No. 43 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. The Cardinals needed to bolster their roster on defense, and they did just that, signing a lockdown corner in Melton.

According to Arizona’s general manager Monti Ossenfort, the Cardinals have been targeting the Rutgers cornerback for a while and had multiple meetings with the player.

Melton doesn’t lack confidence, recording eight interceptions in his four years at Rutgers and had 16 pass breakups the past two seasons. Also, he added three blocked kicks in 2022.

With the Cardinals, he will join forces with Big Ten rival Marvin Harrison Jr., who was a first round pick of the team. Harrison is a former Ohio State wide receiver and has played against Melton multiple times.

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At the NFL Combine in March, Melton ran a 4.39 time in the 40 with a vertical jump of over 40 inches and a long jump of more than 11 feet. Melton can help the Cardinals in whatever form or fashion, adding depth on Special Teams or locking down the opposing team’s best wide receiver.

Melton is a press cornerback, who plays aggressive at the line. He has good hips and speed, which allows him to compete with smaller, shifter wide receivers. But he thrives on physicality and has good awareness which allows him to go up against the likes of Harrison and compete effectively.

Naturally instinctive, he breaks well to the ball when it comes his direction. He is a sure and violent tackler as well who rarely whiffed at the Power Five level.

He is a versatile defensive back with good size and length, logging plenty of snaps as a slot and outside cornerback. Melton shows good awareness in zone coverage with proper spacing and does a great job of playing the ball when he can see it thrown. Also, the 5-foot-11, 187-pound cornerback is an aggressive and physical defender in the run game.

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Melton isn’t afraid to get stuck-in when it comes to run defense.

He sometimes gets caught with his back to the ball which is something that Melton will need to continue to work on. His aggressive play is an asset, but can also lead to pass interference plays.

For the Cardinals, the cornerback position had to be addressed this offseason, finishing 31st in the league in opposing passer rating (102.9) and 30th in receiving touchdowns allowed (32) last season.

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Rutgers football defensive lineman Isaiah Iton signs with Tennessee Titans

Isaiah Iton signed with the Tennessee Titans as an undrafted rookie free agent.

Shortly after the NFL Draft ended, the Tennessee Titans bolstered their defense by signing former Rutgers star Isaiah Iton. A transfer portal addition who spent only one year in Piscataway, Iton settled in quickly and became a big part of the team’s rebuild.

In his only season at Rutgers, the talented defensive lineman recorded 38 tackles in 13 games. He added one fumble recovery to his resume and fit perfectly into Greg Schiano’s scheme. With Iton in the mix, Rutgers won it’s first bowl game in nearly a decade.

While Iton may not be a household name, the Titans have had success signing Rutgers players. Former Cornerback Tre Avery, who went undrafted in 2022, has carved out a solid career with the Titans. Iton will be looking to follow in his footsteps and become a valuable contributor in the NFL. 

As Iton begins his pro career, he will get to compete against some of his teammates. That list includes JaQuae Jackson (Atlanta Falcons), Isaiah Washington, Deion Jennings (Baltimore Ravens), and Shawn Bowman, who were also signed as undrafted free agents. 

Titans 😤😤@Isaiahiton2 | @Titans pic.twitter.com/Z5RRS5pFNn

— Rutgers Football (@RFootball) April 27, 2024

 

Although Iton only spent one year in the Big Ten, he showed that he could hold his own against some of the best players in the country. His focus now will be building on his success at the next level. 

Jacksonville Jaguars sign former Rutgers tight end Shawn Bowman

Rutgers football tight end Shawn Bowman signs an undrafted free agent deal.

Following one season at Rutgers, Shawn Bowman fulfilled a lifelong goal on Sunday, signing a rookie free agent deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

He is the second Rutgers football player to become a Jaguar in the last two years, joining Christian Braswell, who was drafted in the sixth round by Jacksonville last year.

After transferring to Rutgers from Maine, Bowman appeared in 13 games for the Scarlet Knights during the 2023 campaign. In his limited opportunities, Bowman added four receptions and 24 receiving yards to his resume. His best game for Rutgers game against Maryland in November when he caught three passes. 

Although Bowman’s statistics don’t jump off the board, he was a valuable blocking tight end for Rutgers. At Maine, he was much more involved in the passing game. In his senior season, Bowman hauled in 31 receptions for 377 yards.

As Bowman looks to make an impact in Jacksonville, he will not be the only Scarlet Knight trying to prove himself. His former teammates Isaiah Iton (Tennessee Titans), JaQuae Jackson (Atlanta Falcons), Isaiah Washington, and Deion Jennings (Baltimore Ravens) were also signed as undrafted free agents. 

#DUUUVAL @Nl_shawn8 | @Jaguars pic.twitter.com/4QRTtLv5gJ

— Rutgers Football (@RFootball) April 28, 2024

While Bowman’s NFL career is just starting, he held his own as a blocking tight end in the Big Ten. That is one part of his game that could benefit a talented Jaguars offense which includes Trevor Lawrence and Christian Kirk. 

Arizona Cardinals NFL draft pick Max Melton scores TD in same game as his brother

Remembering when Max Melton and Bo Melton each scored a touchdown in the same game.

On Thursday night, Max Melton accomplished a lifelong goal when he was selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the NFL draft. The former Rutgers football defensive back now joins his brother in the NFL.

His brother is Bo Melton, a wide receiver with the Green Bay Packers who is coming off a strong second season in the NFL. Bo Melton was also a standout with Rutgers. Max Melton landed a good spot with the Cardinals where he is likely so see significant snaps as a rookie.

During his time at Rutgers, Max Melton was a consistent performer on a talented defense. One of his best moments came during the 2021 season when he scored a touchdown in the same game as his brother Bo Melton,

Against Temple, the Melton brothers showcased their skills as they each scored touchdowns for the Scarlet Knights in a less than two-minute span. Bo Melton started the scoring with a 40-yard touchdown. However, Max didn’t let his brother have all the fun as he recorded a pick-six shortly after. It was a moment the two will never forget.

CFB: Rutgers WR Bo Melton hauls in a 40-yard TD gets his brother DB Max Melton follows up with a pick-six vs Temple https://t.co/uLUq49FZlS

— Alain Keith Cabardo Daguio (@keithdaguio) September 4, 2021

 

In 43 games as a Scarlet Knight, Max Melton recorded 114 total tackles and eight interceptions. He added one touchdown to his resume during that stretch and forced one fumble. The 2024 draftee was also selected to the Fourth Team All-Big Ten by Phil Steele in December. While Rutgers continued to improve, Max Melton was at the center of their success.

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Although Melton wasn’t initially seen as a top 50 pick, his stock rose over the last few weeks. That was partly due to how well he did during the pre-draft process. Now, he will showcase his skills in the Arizona secondary. 

NFL Mock Draft 2024: Which New York team is projected to take Rutgers football’s Max Melton?

Rutgers Max Melton is projected to be drafted by NY Jets in the third round, according to the latest mock draft from The Sporting News. 

Next week’s NFL draft will likely see Max Melton off the board by the end of Day 2. The Rutgers football defensive back is coming off a strong week of Senior Bowl practice as well as a sensational showing at the NFL combine.

Melton, a 5-foot-11, 197-pound cornerback, is being projected to the New York Jets in the third round with the Jets’ No. 72 overall pick, according to the latest mock draft from the Sporting News.

If the Jets draft Melton, the New Jersey native can stay home, adding depth to New York’s defensive secondary. In potentially adding Melton, the Jets can add a solid defensive back to compliment Sauce Gardner and D.J. Reed.

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Since the NFL combine in March, Melton has quickly risen on NFL draft boards.

During his four seasons at Rutgers, Melton registered 113 total tackles, eight interceptions, 20 pass breakups, one forced fumble, and four fumble recoveries throughout four seasons. Melton finished the 2023 season as an All-Big Ten selection, starting 12 games for the Scarlet Knights.

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Melton’s draft stock rose when he ran a 4.39 time in the 40-yard dash and finished with impressive athletic measurements at the NFL combine.