Mello Dotson NFL Draft 2025: Scouting Report for Kansas CB

HEIGHT: 6'1"

WEIGHT: 192

HAND: 8½"

ARM: 31½"

WINGSPAN: 77⅞”

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40-YARD DASH: 4.57

VERTICAL: 34.5"

BROAD: 10'3"

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POSITIVES

— Active cornerback who shows ability to play in both zone and man coverage. Plays with good leverage and awareness, splitting his threats well with good positioning.

— Shows very good footwork in his backpedal with his feet underneath of him and ability to quickly get his plant foot down.

— Very good ball skills. Tracks the ball well and has the hands to catch the ball away from his body.

— Aggressive and physical playing the run. Takes on blockers and triggers quickly to the run.

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NEGATIVES

— Lacks the desired functional strength to take on and control blockers on the edge. Has shown to get bumped off at the top of routes in coverage.

— Shows a little bit of tightness which can lead to initial separation downfield. This also gives him some difficulty to cover double moves.

— Inconsistent eye discipline due to him staring in the backfield and losing track of his threats, putting him in bad positions.

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2024 STATISTICS

— 12 Games, 49 Tackles, 1 TFL, 5 INT, 7 PBU, 1 FR, 1 FF, 2 TD

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NOTES

— Games Started: 46

— Full name Ra'Mello Dotson

— Brother, Meiko Dotson Jr. played at Florida Atlantic and Florida State

— 3-Star recruit in the 2020 class, per 247Sports

— 2024: First Team All-Big 12

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OVERALL

Melo Dotson is a long, active cornerback with extensive experience. His combination of length, ball skills, and competitive play has made him a key player in the Jayhawks' secondary. His ability to play in both man and zone coverage makes him an intriguing prospect for teams seeking versatility and physicality in their defensive backfield.

In coverage, Dotson displays solid footwork and positioning, which enable him to split threats and maintain leverage effectively. His ball skills are among his strongest traits; he tracks the ball well in the air and has the hands to secure interceptions, evidenced by his impressive 2024 stat line. Dotson's length and use of his hands in press coverage allow him to disrupt routes early and stay in the receiver's hip pocket. However, some tightness in his hips can make transitions less fluid, leading to initial separation, particularly on double moves or sharp breaks. His eye discipline also needs improvement, as he can get caught staring into the backfield, causing him to lose track of his assignments in coverage.

Dotson's aggressive mindset shines in the run game. He quickly triggers downhill to support the run, showing a willingness to take on blockers and engage physically. His long arms allow him to disrupt and shed blocks effectively when positioned correctly. However, his lack of ideal functional strength can occasionally lead to struggles against stronger blockers on the edge. Dotson also takes risks by shooting inside gaps, which can leave running lanes open when he fails to secure the tackle. While his willingness is evident, his tackling technique—often relying on ankle-biting or diving at legs—can lead to inconsistencies, particularly against larger ball carriers.

Melo Dotson projects as a fourth-round pick with the potential to carve out a role as a versatile rotational cornerback in the NFL. His length, ball skills, and competitive nature make him a valuable asset in zone-heavy schemes, though he has the physical tools to contribute in man coverage with refinement. While he will need to address his tackling consistency and tighten his transitions, Dotson's ability to create turnovers and compete in the run game makes him a high-level developmental prospect with starting upside.

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GRADE: 6.6 (Potential Role Player — 4th Round)

OVERALL RANK: 155

POSITION RANK: CB19

PRO COMPARISON: Kindle Vildor

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Written by B/R NFL Scout Cory Giddings

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Prospect workout numbers, measurables (40-yard dash, hand size, etc.) and 2024 statistics will be added at a later date.