Green Bay’s Bo Melton still considers himself a wide receiver first and foremost, even as he spends part of the Packers’ minicamp working out at cornerback. The 26-year-old has made it clear that he’s not transitioning to defense, but he’s open to testing his abilities in a new role.
“I want to give it a shot,” Melton said Wednesday. “I’m still a wide receiver, so I’m not really transitioning to cornerback, but if it works, it works.”
The idea of trying Melton out on defense came up long before the Packers released Jaire Alexander, one of their top cornerbacks. It was actually discussed shortly after the team signed him off the Seattle Seahawks’ practice squad in December 2022.
A Team-First Mindset
Melton’s willingness to try something new stems from his team-first mentality. He told reporters that Head Coach Matt LaFleur approached him with the idea, and he was all in.
“Coach (Matt) LaFleur came up and asked me, ‘Would you ever think about doing it?’” Melton recalled. “I was like, ‘If it’s going to help the team, I might as well,’ you know what I mean? That’s my motto since I’ve been here. I’m a team-first guy.”
His teammates were initially surprised when they saw him practicing with the defensive backs during Tuesday’s minicamp. Carrington Valentine, a Packers cornerback, admitted he wasn’t aware of the plan until Melton joined the defensive group.
Even Max Melto, Bo’s younger brother and an Arizona Cardinals cornerback, was stunned. He learned about Bo’s defensive work through social media and called it “shocking.”
“I’m like, ‘What the hell?’ … It’s just shocking. I’m still in shock,” Max said.
No Comparison to Travis Hunter
Despite the buzz around Travis Hunter, the Jacksonville Jaguars’ rookie who played both receiver and cornerback while winning the Heisman Trophy , Melton insists he won’t compare himself to the two-way star.
“He’s a different athlete, as everybody knows,” Melton said. “He’s a Heisman Trophy winner, won a lot of awards. I’m not going to compare myself to somebody that’s done that. But what I will say is I like to run for days.”
Melton’s work ethic has helped him stick on an NFL roster as an undrafted free agent. He spent time on the practice squad in 2023 before being activated for key games, where he showed his ability to contribute on offense and special teams.
A New Role, Same Old Work Ethic
While the Packers have Keisean Nixon, Carrington Valentine, and Nate Hobbs as their top three cornerbacks, they lack depth behind them. If Melton can provide any kind of contribution, it would add value and increase his chances of staying on the roster.
“I still don’t know if it’s going to be true or not,” Melton said. “Coach Matt, we’ll figure that out. When I meet with Coach, we’ll see what’s going on. Right now I’m just going to go train for wideout. I feel like that’s where I thrive at, that’s where I make plays at. And defense, if it comes, it comes.”
Valentine, who has been helping Melton learn the ropes, said he sees potential.
“He’s been embracing it,” Valentine said. “I’ve been trying to show him the ropes a little bit. Give him some DB 101. But he looks natural to me.”
A Family Legacy
Max Melton, who is currently at the Arizona Cardinals’ minicamp, is eager to see how his brother adapts to the new role.
“I’m looking forward to seeing how it unfolds, to be honest,” Max said. “I’m just excited.”
Whether or not Melton becomes a two-way threat, his team-first attitude and work ethic have already made an impression on the Packers. And with Bo Melton’s name starting to circulate in the football world, the future could be bright for this versatile player.
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