Packers' Melton Back to Full-Time Wide Receiver
Packers wide receiver Bo Melton hauls in a 45-yard touchdown against the Bears last season. Melton will return to being a full-time wide receiver in 2026.
On Tuesday, at his press conference before the Green Bay Packers’ mini camp practice, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said that Bo Melton will go back to being a full;-time wide receiver.
With this news, it looks like the Packers top six wide receivers on cutdown day should be: Christian Watson, Jayden Reed, Matthew Golden, Savion Wiliams, Bo Melton and Skyy Moore.
Matt LaFleur says Bo Melton has returned to full time receiver, no more cornerback. #Packers believe he provides solid depth as playmaker on offense.
— Ryan Wood (@ByRyanWood) June 2, 2026
The top of the depth chart is a little different than it has been the last three seasons. The Packers were four-deep in their young group of wide receivers who were drafted in 2022 and 2023. The top four in both 2023 and 2024 were Watson, Reed, Dontayvion Wicks and Romeo Doubs.
With the departures of Wicks and Doubs, the 2025 draft picks in Golden and Williams should become the next two in line this season.
However, despite not being a “top four” wide receiver in any of the last three seasons, Melton found a way to be a contributor at wide receiver at the end of each season.
In 2023, Melton had just one of the team’s 100-yard games of the season with 105 yards on six catches and a touchdown in a Week 17 win at Minnesota. Melton also had a touchdown catch in the playoff loss in San Francisco.
Melton finished the 2023 season with 16 catches for 218 yards and one touchdown. In the last two seasons combined, he had just 12 catches for 198 yards and a touchdown, which was a 45-yarder against the Bears last season.
At least the Packers still have Bo Melton pic.twitter.com/SNf16e68io
— SleeperPackers (@SleeperPackers) April 12, 2026
If there are any injuries to the top four wide receivers throughout next season, Melton will likely be the next man up.
Moore should make the roster as primarily a return specialist and another wide receiver who could fill in in a pinch if there are injuries to the main targets.
Will the Packers Keep 7 Wide Receivers?
Currently the Packers have 11 wide receivers on the roster, which currently leaves five players battling it out after the first six guys. Those wide receivers are all first or second-year players: Jakobie Keeney-James, Isaiah Neyor, Brenden Rice, Will Sheppard and J. Michael Sturdivant.
Keeney-James, Neyor and Sheppard have been around Green Bay since last season as preseason players and/or members of the practice squad. Rice, the son of Hall of Famer Jerry Rice, joins the team after a year with the Chargers where did not make a catch in three games played.
The most intriguing player might be Sturdivant, who was an undrafted free agent after playing a year at Florida. He was a 5th-year senior at Florida last season, after playing previously both at UCLA and California.
A sure-handed 87? Here’s rookie J. Michael Sturdivant. pic.twitter.com/RpNgSF3PnC
— Bill Huber (@BillHuberNFL) May 27, 2026
He’s a big target at 6’3” and his 40 time entering the draft was 4.4. He will be someone to watch in preseason games, as he will be wearing the #87 that has been a very good wide receiver for the Packers in the last 30 years, as its previously worn by Robert Brooks, Jordy Nelson and Romeo Doubs.
Current Packers Wide Receivers
| # | Player | Ht | Wt | Years | College |
| 0 | Matthew Golden | 5-11 | 191 | 2 | Texas |
| 9 | Christian Watson | 6-4 | 208 | 5 | North Dakota State |
| 11 | Jayden Reed | 5-11 | 187 | 4 | Michigan State |
| 16 | Bo Melton | 5-11 | 189 | 4 | Rutgers |
| 23 | Skyy Moore | 5-10 | 195 | 5 | Western Michigan |
| 80 | Isaiah Neyor | 6-4 | 218 | 1 | Nebraska |
| 82 | Will Sheppard | 6-3 | 196 | 1 | Colorado |
| 83 | Savion Williams | 6-4 | 222 | 2 | TCU |
| 84 | Jakobie Keeney-James | 6-0 | 190 | 1 | UMass |
| 87 | J. Michael Sturdivant | 6-3 | 207 | R | Florida |
| 89 | Brenden Rice | 6-2 | 208 | 2 | USC |
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Mitch McLaughlin is a Packers fan and shareholder residing in Sacramento, California. He will be writing Packers stories each week on Cheesehead TV. He can be found on Twitter: @McLaughlinMitch
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Comments (24)
stockholder
June 02, 2026 at 02:07 pm
MLF can say what he wants. '
But I see too many 5'11" guys.
KKB
June 02, 2026 at 04:37 pm
That is OK for camp.
But there is NO WAY you can roster 4 of your top 6 (or7) receivers that small.
jannesbjornson
June 02, 2026 at 04:50 pm
The Three Amigos for Denver's Elway-Air Raid offense. They were all 5'-10 , or under. If you need to rely on a post-up stiff to make the big catch, you might as well punt on third down. Get to the open space fast, catch the ball and take off for greener pastures.
Coldworld
June 02, 2026 at 05:46 pm
If LaFleur dramatically changes his offense, then yes it can be done. Nothing we’ve seen to date during his tenure suggests that he will make such changes or that the current O would function well with that many small WRs.
SicSemperTyrannis
June 04, 2026 at 06:15 am
What about only roster 4 WRs? Saving room for more in the D line+ the pass rushing room. Even if (God forbid) you lost two WRs in the same game you should still be able to get through it with TEs and RBs who can catch, and call up more WRs off the PS for the following week.
TKWorldWide
June 02, 2026 at 07:09 pm
Highly discriminatory.
You need to do better.
Mind your own business.
stockholder
June 02, 2026 at 07:53 pm
No - it wasn't.
You want bigger targets for your qb.
TKWorldWide
June 03, 2026 at 01:58 pm
So no Joey Swoll for you then?
dobber
June 03, 2026 at 09:09 am
At least he doesn't see dead people.
packer132
June 03, 2026 at 10:08 am
Five of the WR's are 6'3 or 6'4. Watson is 6'4 as is Savion W. Reed is 5'11 but I will take him as he is a playmaker and football player. Moore is listed as WR but he will be a returner.
Davante was 6'1; James Jones 6'1; Donald Driver 6'0; Sterling Sharpe was 5'11 1/2.Were they too small? Its about getting open and getting YAC.
TruePackerBacker
June 02, 2026 at 02:09 pm
I really dont think MLF and his crops of coaches can develop players. Ever since MLF became the coach of the packers in 2019, NOT 1 SINGLE PLAYER HAS MADE IT TO THE PROBOWL OR ANYTTHING, since the 2019 draft. Everyone that has, either was already here before he came or we got from another team.
BuckyBadger
June 02, 2026 at 02:28 pm
Got Willis paid.
Cheezehead72
June 02, 2026 at 02:55 pm
The Pro Bowl selections are jokes. What matters is the All Pro. The Pro Bowl is a popularity contest.
TruePackerBacker
June 02, 2026 at 03:07 pm
Last all pro drafted by packers was 5 years ago by a player drafted in 2014 (Adams).
Since'75
June 02, 2026 at 06:54 pm
Didn't the Packers mold Rashan Gary into a Pro Bowl player?
Ok, ok...that was outa line!! My bad 😛
splitpea1
June 02, 2026 at 03:10 pm
Hopefully Sturdivant can at least be stashed safely on the practice squad. He has a lot going for him if he can be developed.
Gman1976
June 02, 2026 at 04:53 pm
Not a fan of MLF nor Melton. Last year, MLF put Melton out on the field and took snaps from Golden. Melton has dropped a lot of passes and was moved to DB. I sense MLF is trying once again to force a round peg in a square hole.
Coldworld
June 02, 2026 at 05:50 pm
My guess is Melton makes it as a STer and, with all the new CBs they want to get them snaps and evaluate the depth. Melton’s official position on the 91 roster is probably not particularly significant.
golfpacker61
June 02, 2026 at 04:56 pm
I like Bo Melton but he is unworthy of an article. He is a MEH player. I read his brother the 2nd round CB is a cut/trade candidate. That would be newsworthy.
Since'75
June 02, 2026 at 06:50 pm
Final answer?
Leatherhead
June 02, 2026 at 07:04 pm
It's kind of a crowded WR room right now, but injuries happen. We usually suit up 5 or 6, and Watson/Reed/Golden/Williams are mortal locks for 4 of those spots. I'm sure we'd like to have two guys on the Practice Squad, too.
Our main guys this year will be two pretty good sized guys, Watson and Williams, and two guys who are shorter, quicker guys, Reed and Golden. This just lets the Packers take advantage of matchups during the season, when we can get Savion Williams lined up on a small guy and Golden gets matched up with the slow guy, for example. This is a group that can get into the endzone.
I think when you're looking for help while you're running, it's better to have the bigger target. That's just me.
TKWorldWide
June 02, 2026 at 07:11 pm
Plus a part time running back.
ArlenWilliams
June 02, 2026 at 11:03 pm
Watson, Reed, Golden, Williams, Melton, Sturdevant, Moore --guess is they'll either protect seven or one is likely to be injured at the start. All but possibly Rice look like contributors.
Coldworld
June 03, 2026 at 09:13 am
At WR, things can get shaken up a lot by camp and health. Assuming Watson, Reed, Golden and Williams stay healthy, there are 2 or 3 spots that will be up for grabs and some talent to fight over them. I’m going to enjoy watching who grabs the opportunity.
It’s also worth considering that we will likely want balance in terms of strengths, weaknesses and play style to cover not only injuries but to ensure we have tactical options depending on opponent and perhaps conditions.
I would not rule out Shepherd being the game day first up, for example. I would not rule out Neyor or Sturdivant showing up as a blocker 6th WR but with the ability to go deep as well. Hopefully our coaches are open minded and we have a genuine competition. I think that could be very interesting this summer.
In a way, this group is, on paper, more talented than I recall if not nearly the most proven. This would have been a great group to have back in the days of 4 or 5 WR sets in the McCarthy era. A lot of size and speed that could exploit.