Green Bay Packers’ potential two-way star cools Travis Hunter comparison, ‘…I’m still a wide receiver’

Melton, a pickup off waivers from the Seattle Seahawks in 2022, has played wide receiver for most of his football career, including his five years at Rutgers University before Seattle made him a seventh-round pick that same year.

Since arriving in Green Bay, he’s been allowed to develop as a receiver slowly and is probably most notable for catching his only target in the 2023 NFC Divisional game against the San Francisco 49ers, which went for 19 yards and a touchdown.

With the team having stocked up at receiver of late, coach Matt LaFleur has elected to try something new with Melton, although the player doesn’t seem to think it’s a long-term option.

Bo Melton works out at cornerback, but dismisses two-way suggestions

Shots of Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley working the athlete out at cornerback during the team’s minicamp on Wednesday quickly went viral, but Melton seemed lukewarm at best on it continuing long-term.

“It’s just something that came up, I want to give it a shot,” Melton said. “I’m still a wide receiver, so I’m not really transitioning to no cornerback, but if it works, it works.”

When a reporter mentioned the connection to Jacksonville Jaguars phenom Travis Hunter, however, Melton was much less equivocal, dismissing the comparison out of hand.

“Travis is a different athlete…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 said.

Dual training could help Bo Melton stay on the Packers

It’s an interesting development for Melton, particularly as competition at his regular position increases. The Packers added two rookies, including first-rounder Matthew Golden, in the recent draft, as well as adding veteran MeCole Hardman to a unit that already includes some experienced players, including Romeo Doubs and Christian Watson.

It’s a relatively transparent attempt from the Packers to find a role for an athlete who may not have one in the logjam of competitors for the 53-man roster. The coaches are seemingly intent on utilising Melton’s already-known special teams prowess – he plays as a blocker on the punt return unit in what ostensibly mirrors lining up as a cornerback – as a way to try something new with him.

Whether this results in a permanent move that solidifies his spot on the roster, or just a late-minicamp quirk, is unknown, but as the Packers seek to find some solutions at defensive back, it certainly warrants watching.