2022 NFL Draft Prospect Profile: WR Bo Melton, Rutgers

The Giants have, at least in the past, looked down the turnpike at Rutgers for training camp prospects. Receiver Bo Melton is sure to be one such prospect who gets a look.

Author:
Nick Falato
Publish date:
Feb 9, 2022 8:00 AM EST

In this story:

Rutgers Scarlet Knights

Bo Melton, WR

Height: 5’11
Weight: 194 lbs.
Class: RS Senior
School: Rutgers

Melton is a former four-star recruit from Cedar Creek High School in Egg Harbor City, New Jersey. Melton’s parents were both athletes at Rutgers; his father, Gary, played football and his mother, Victoria, was a basketball champion. His younger brother, Max, is a cornerback on Rutgers, and his older brother, Gary Jr, played football at Delaware State University.

Melton was a 2021 and 2020 team captain that finished third-team All-Big Ten in 2021 (Pro Football Focus). He played in 56 career games. He ranks sixth in program history with 164 career receptions. He had 11 touchdowns in his career and 2,037 receiving yards. Melton recorded 56 catches on 91 targets for 642-yards and three touchdowns in 2021.

Melton was the offensive MVP for Rutgers in 2021. His route tree consisted of quick hitches against off-coverage, deep over routes, and he was consistently asked to stretch the field vertically and horizontally, with double moves built into his routes. Melton’s playmaking potential is interesting. He was the 2022 Reese’s Senior Bowl, snagging two catches for 18 yards and a long of 10.

Strengths

Playmaking capability and big play-ability
Very good athlete for NFL standards
Has deep speed, gets vertical in a hurry
Excellent COD, and is very fluid/smooth when running routes
Showed solid release ability against press
Quick feet, different release packages
Quick acceleration and stop on a dime, quick COD skills in and out of breaks
A natural separator due to athletic capabilities
Also has nuance to his routes - understands how to manipulate leverage
Uses head and shoulder fakes and quickly eats into off coverage
Good processing against C3 teams on quick hitches, flowing away from defenders
Solid ability to adjust to the football in the air
Fights for yardage, good low center of gravity, plays balanced
Good in space with the football - had plenty of designed touches at Rutgers
Isn’t the biggest but does a solid job blocking
A tough, loyal player

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Gallery

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Needs to Improve

Listed at 5’11, but that is generous
Not the biggest frame and his catch radius is modest
Would lose the ball too often on deeper routes
Concentration, dropped way too many footballs (17 collegiate drops)
Marginal contested catch ability
Need better ball skills to be a starter in the NFL
Took questionable angles to DBs with depth when blocking

Summary

Overall, the movement skills of Bo Melton are impressive and NFL caliber. He does a good job of creating separation in a variety of ways. He quickly accelerates and gets vertical while also displaying the ability to sink his hips and come back to the football on comebacks/hitches.

The Senior Bowl was a great opportunity for Melton to showcase his quickness and speed, but he has to do a better job holding onto the football. Windows in the NFL are very tight, and contested catches in traffic aren’t Melton’s strength.

An NFL team will love his traits, but he would maximize his potential if he could hold onto the football more consistently.

GRADE: 5.8