Melo noted that Stukes stood out on film for his coverage instincts and physicality, making him an intriguing option in the 2026 NFL Draft.
"I had roughly 14 formal interviews at the NFL Combine, with teams like the San Francisco 49ers, Minnesota Vikings, Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, Cincinnati Bengals, Las Vegas Raiders, both New York teams [Giants and Jets], and others," Stukes told Melo.
Stukes (6-1, 190) is projected as high as a Day 2 selection, which is notable given the 49ers currently hold just one Day 2 pick—a second-round selection. However, some projections place him in the early portion of Day 3, where San Francisco owns four fourth-round picks.
"I'm going to bring the right mentality to the team," Stukes said. "I'm going to keep being intentional about my process. I'm always ready to compete and improve.
"I'm going to bring an infectious amount of energy and effort to the locker room. I want to help the team win some football games. That's the end goal at the end of the day. Whoever picks me is getting a guy who wants to help the team achieve its goals."
At the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, Stukes boosted his draft stock by running a 4.33-second 40-yard dash and posting a 38-inch vertical jump, easing concerns about his recovery from the ACL injury that limited him to just four games in 2024.
Stukes spent six seasons at Arizona, compiling 206 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, seven interceptions, and 29 passes defensed, according to Sports Reference.
After returning from injury in 2025, he recorded 52 tackles, one sack, and four interceptions, including a key pick in the Territorial Cup—a 23-7 win over Arizona State. He also added six pass breakups and earned first-team All-Big 12 and second-team All-American honors.
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