Packers receiver accepting challenge of learning new position

Wes Hodkiewicz

GREEN BAYBo Meltonisn't looking to change his job description, nor have the Packers asked him to.

But when Matt LaFleur inquired last week about the second-year receiver taking a stab at playing cornerback, the team-oriented Melton told his head coach he was up for the challenge.

The move, unveiled at Tuesday's first minicamp practice, sent shockwaves through social media after clips began to circulate of Melton working with Green Bay's cornerbacks during individual drills.

It wasn't only Packers fans who were surprised, either. Neither the offense nor defense knew Melton was going to be taking snaps at cornerback until practice was underway.

Even Melton's younger brother Max, a cornerback for the Arizona Cardinals, was caught off-guard by the news.

"He kind of was shocked. I didn't tell him," Melton said. "So, when he saw it, he called me and was like, 'What the hell are you doing?' I didn't tell him, just because I've been playing wideout. It's just something that came up. I want to give it a shot."

Make no mistake, Melton is still a wideout the position at which he starred for Rutgers and has played since joining the Packers late in the 2022 season.

However, the notion of two-way players has gained popularity following Travis Hunter's prodigious run at Colorado. While Melton quickly shut down any comparisons to the No. 2 pick in this year's draft, the 5-foot-11, 189-pound receiver is intrigued by the idea of testing the limits of his versatility.

Known for his speed, Melton was first presented with the idea of playing cornerback while he was on Green Bay's practice squad back in 2023. The coaches, impressed by Melton's work on special teams, asked him if he'd ever played corner before.

Melton said he hadn't since high school, though the idea was briefly bandied about after he enrolled at Rutgers. That was as far as talks went, though, as Melton emerged during the second half of the 2023 campaign.

With mounting injuries at receiver, Melton became the first Green Bay wideout to record a 100-yard game that year after a six-catch, 105-yard performance in a 33-10 win over Minnesota in Week 17.

"Obviously he's a real talented player and has produced," said LaFleur of Melton. "I just love everything about the guy. How he shows up every day ready to compete and give his best effort matter of fact, I showed some clips of him in the team meeting (Tuesday) morning, just of what he does."

Melton has been on Green Bay's active roster since that breakout game, though his offensive opportunities were limited last year. He finished with eight catches for 91 yards while serving as a featured flyer on the Packers' punt coverage unit.

The competition hasn't gotten any easier in a loaded receiver room after Green Bay added two draft picks (Matthew GoldenandSavion Williams) and veteranMecole Hardmanthis offseason.

Looking to try something new during the final week of the offseason program, the Packers and Melton finally decided to give him a look at cornerback withNate Hobbs,Kalen KingandMicah Robinsonall dealing with injuries.

"There are very few guys who have done it in our league," said General Manager Brian Gutekunst of Melton playing both ways. "There have been a few and when a guy's able to do that, it certainly helps your football team.

"Bo is everything we want in a football player out there as far as his ability as a receiver, certainly on (special) teams. If he's able to add to his arsenal, that makes him really, really valuable to us."

Always willing to push the boundaries of his athleticism, Melton took things a step further in practice Tuesday when he alternated between playing offense and defense during the same team period.

He initially played defense while wearing his white offensive jersey until finally throwing on a green pinny to indicate when he's now a defensive player.

"Most of the offensive guys were tripped out more I was because you see a white jersey coming, running at you, from the offensive perspective and they're all confused," safetyEvan Williamssaid.

"He's an athlete, honestly. Seeing him out there, I was watching film (Tuesday) night and he's pretty sticky in coverage for his first time out there."

Melton said he tried not to look at the offensive script for the periods of practice he was on defense due to his intricate knowledge of the offense and the receiver route tree.

Instead, Melton has been busy in the defensive playbook while spending time with defensive pass game coordinator Derrick Ansley. He also spent a portion of Wednesday's practice talking technique with defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, a secondary coach by trade.

Depending on how serious he and the Packers want to get, Melton has a pretty good resource back home in Max, a 2024 second-round pick with whom Melton trains in the offseason.

But whatever route the Packers choose to take with Melton, the 26-year-old wideout has made it clear with his words and actions he'll do whatever is asked of him if it helps the team.

"It's just something they want to look at," Melton said. "I'm still a wide receiver, so I'm not really transitioning to no cornerback. But if it works, it works."