The Cardinals continued to get their large draft class under contract, signing cornerback Max Meltonand offensive lineman Isaiah Adamson Tuesday.
Each inked the usual four-year deals.
Melton, the Cardinals lone second-round selection, was picked with the 43rd overall selection in the draft. In his final season at Rutgers, the cornerback had 32 tackles, four tackles for loss, nine pass deflections and three interceptions, earning All-Big Ten honors.
Coach Jonathan Gannon said that Melton "plays with a certain amount of violence, that was one of the things that attracted to us on his tape." Melton could earn a starting role on the outside alongside free agency addition Sean Murphy-Bunting.
After months of training for the combine and pro day, Melton is ready to dive back into the X's and O's.
"All of those drills, you're really only going to do one time in your life," Melton said. "I'm just happy. I walked into the locker room, and I saw my helmet and I was like, 'Yup, I need the pads right now.'"
Adams' signing completes the duo of Fighting Illini teammates making it official with the Cardinals. Tight end Tip Reiman signed his contract on Friday.
The journey to the NFL took Adams all over North America. Born in Canada, Adams spent two years at a Canadian university followed by a two-year pit stop at a junior college in Kansas before wrapping up his collegiate career in Champaign.
Due to injuries, Adams had to spend his final season at Illinois at right tackle but made a name for himself in 2022 at left guard. Guard is a position the Cardinals have tried to address through free agency and the draft with the selection of Adams. He'll compete with the likes of Elijah Wilkinson, Trystan Colon, Jon Gaines II, and free agency addition Evan Brown.
