The Green Bay Packers didn’t select a wide receiver in the 2026 NFL Draft, but they did have a surprising addition to the group at the start of OTAs. It wasn’t a new acquisition but rather a change in position. Bo Melton, who spent last season at cornerback, is once again listed as a wide receiver on the Packers’ dot com.
Bo Melton wore the white offensive jersey on the first practice of OTAs, and his roster designation changed shortly after.
Considering the state of Melton’s position groups, receiver and cornerback, this move bolsters the diminished former group while adding some space for new acquisitions at the latter. It’s an interesting move and solidifies Melton’s desire to do anything for the team, not to mention the coaching staff’s faith in the versatile young player.
Heading into last season, the wide receiver room was crowded thanks to Brian Gutekunst drafting Matthew Golden and Savion Williams. Coupled with free-agent acquisition Mecole Hardman, who had a shot to make the roster as a receiver, and there was no guarantee Melton would make the final 53.
The coaching staff clearly likes Melton. Matt LaFleur and former special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia constantly heaped praise on his versatility, work ethic, and willingness to do the dirty work. Their solution to keeping Melton on the roster while not carrying 8,000 wide receivers was an experiment. What if Melton could play cornerback, the same position his brother plays for Arizona?
The cornerback room needed the help, and if it didn’t work out, Melton still was valuable on offense and special teams. In limited action, Melton responded well to his new position. He changed his number and everything!
So Melton ended the 2025 NFL season as a cornerback.
He also played exactly zero snaps on defense.
Thanks to injuries at wide receiver, Melton did play 96 snaps on offense, catching four of his 13 targets for 107 yards and a touchdown. Each one of his catches was a first down, and he had his career-long reception (45 yards). Not bad for a cornerback forced to play offense.
Entering the 2026 season, things are different. Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks are gone. Hardman didn’t make the roster, but Skyy Moore joined this offseason as a returner and potential offensive weapon. There are fewer mouths to feed in the passing game.
Meanwhile, the Packers are remodeling their cornerback room. Nate Hobbs was a one-year wonder and was released after one season in Green Bay. Keisean Nixon and Carrington Valentine are the returning outside corners, but neither is a lock. The Packers added Benjamin St-Juste in free agency and drafted Brandon Cisse and Domani Jackson.
Snaps at cornerback will be hard to come by, and Bo Melton didn’t play there last season, so he’d face an uphill battle there.
As we saw, even at another position, Melton was valuable on offense. He’s willing to block, he doesn’t complain about a lack of targets, and he knows the playbook. Based on the state of the roster, this is the best option for the team and Melton himself, entering his fourth year with the Packers.
Ultimately, Melton’s base position doesn’t matter a ton. He hasn’t been an every-game player on offense, and he makes most of his impact on special teams.
Melton played 185 special teams snaps in 2025, a career high. He’s one of the team’s best special teamers, and an especially potent gunner. There’s a good case he should have been the punt returner over other options. It’s a new special teams regime, but Melton offers a lot for new coordinator Cam Achord.
Still, he’ll need to make the roster at some sort of regular position, and his chances of staying with the roster are stronger at wide receiver than cornerback.
Christian Watson, Matthew Golden, Jayden Reed, and Savion Williams are the locks at wide receiver. Skyy Moore needs a good summer to make the roster, but he’s got a solid chance thanks to his electric return ability. Melton will compete with a smattering of practice squad players looking for a bigger role. However, his biggest competition might be from a fellow UDFA.
Rookie receiver J. Michael Sturdivant signed a not insignificant deal with Green Bay that should at the very least secure him a practice squad spot. He’ll be one of the top UDFA contenders to make the initial roster and is likely Melton’s top competition.
Still, Melton’s versatility, plus the trust of the coaching staff, gives him an edge. It won’t be shocking at all to see Melton catching impactful passes at some point this season.
