Relax, Bo Melton Isn't Jaire Alexander's Replacement
Um, it's June.
By Kevin Gibson
Fine, I’ll say it: If Bo Melton ever plays meaningful snaps at cornerback for the Green Bay Packers, the team is probably in real trouble.
But then I tune into social media this week, and somehow there is an uproar about Melton, a 2022 seventh-round draft pick whom the Packers plucked off the wire from the Seattle Seahawks, being groomed as the replacement for recently-released, two-time All-Pro cornerback Jaire Alexander. The buzz is also fueled by the fact Melton’s brother, Max, is a starting corner in Arizona.
So, I’m simply here to remind fans that trying out a player who is in a tough roster-spot competition at an unfamiliar position is just one of those things that happens because it’s June.
It’s JUNE.
Remember a few years ago when a six-foot-six UDFA wide receiver named Michael Clark, who had mostly been a basketball player in college, was going to transition to tight end for the Packers? He came in at around 217 pounds, and thanks to a shortage of tight end talent on the roster at the time (Martellus Bennett? Yuck), the fan speculation was that he would magically bulk up and make the switch.
Days later, Clark retired from football instead, but this is just one of those things that happens sometimes before the season ever starts. You know, like when it’s JUNE.
Sure, a successful switcheroo has happened before, for example, in the form of former Packer Corey Harris, who switched from receiver to defensive back and enjoyed a long career in the league. Sam Shields was a receiver before he became a cornerback in Green Bay, switching during his senior season at Miami. Matt Jones of the Jaguars famously transitioned from quarterback to wide receiver, as did Josh Cribbs, Julian Edelman and others. Hey, even Randall Cobb played some quarterback at Kentucky.
And for now, let’s please leave Travis Hunter out of this conversation. That’s … well, different. And also, it’s JUNE.
So, Melton’s tryout isn’t about the loss of Alexander earlier this week. That’s a coincidence. It’s about giving the young man a better chance to make the roster. Given the competition in the wide receiver group, Melton’s shot to play offensive snaps is in some serious jeopardy.
The Packers solution at cornerback is… Bo Melton?!?! He’s out working with the CB group.
With Micah Robinson & Kalen King out today, and with the release of Jaire - CB is very thin. pic.twitter.com/2644bt2Ywz
— Andy Herman (@AndyHermanNFL) June 10, 2025
Returning wide receivers include, of course, Jayden Reed, Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks, and those guys are certainly making the cut. The Packers signed speed/depth guy Mecole Hardman in the off-season to add to the competition, while Christian Watson is expected back from his knee injury around mid-season.
Throw in two draft picks at the position – Matthew Golden and Savion Williams – and guys like Melton and Malik Heath find themselves on the outside looking in. So why not utilize Melton’s athleticism in an in-house tryout of sorts? What is there to lose?
For crying out Pete’s sake, it’s JUNE.
Even Melton himself was shocked that the reports coming from minicamp about his switching sides for part of practice Wednesday had caused an online uproar.
“I was like, ‘Shoot, maybe this is bigger than what I thought,'” he told the media on Wednesday. “I just went out there, like I said, gave it a shot. I kind of liked it a little bit.”
He added, “I’m still a wide receiver, so I’m not really transitioning to no cornerback, but if it works, it works.”
“We just thought that if there is somebody that can potentially do both,” LaFleur said after the pseudo-tryout, “he would be that guy.”
Packers GM Brian Gutekunst essentially confirmed that Melton’s work at cornerback was just to get a feel for what else he might bring to the team. Apparently, they see value in the athletic Melton on special teams, plus he has elite speed, having posted a 4.34 40-yard dash during his NFL Scouting Combine workouts three years ago in compiling an elite Relative Athletic Score. On top of that, the team likes Melton’s work ethic.
In other words, just give the guy an extra shot to make the roster, because good football players can be hard to find. And hey, what if it works?
Oh, and, you know, it’s freaking JUNE. Why not give it a try?
“There are very few guys who have done it in our league,” general manager Brian Gutekunst said of successfully making a full position switch. “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.”
PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHEESEHEAD NATION WEEKLY NEWSLETTER HERE.
__________________________
Kevin Gibson is a professional writer and author based in Louisville, Ky. He's also a former sports writer who covered high school, college and professional sports, a Packers shareholder and a fan since 1975. Even John Hadl couldn't break him. Follow him on Twitter: @kgramone
__________________________
Comments (48)
TKWorldWide
June 13, 2025 at 06:52 am
Your voice of reason is not welcome here, sir, in June or any other month! 😂😂
greengold
June 13, 2025 at 03:14 pm
Quite on brand, TK. LOLOLOL
T7Steve
June 13, 2025 at 06:54 am
"Oh, and, you know, it’s freaking JUNE."
Hope the best for Bo because you can never have enough speed on the team. If he does play CB, he'll have to use that speed to try to catch up with his initial mistakes. I'm sure he probably played it in high school at least and against his brother in the summers.
Coldworld
June 13, 2025 at 12:11 pm
I remember Sam Shields when he first played. Mistakes galore, visibly so even to a casual watcher, but he just had the speed and athleticism to make up for most of them or limit the damage. It was quite something to watch early on.
Shields ran a 4.26 40, so he was lightning fast (Golden runs 4.29), while Melton ran a 4.34: do those 8 hundredths make a significant difference?
Both had good agility and explosion scores, horizontally and vertically. Melton is about ten pounds heavier (189) than Shields was (178). They are both listed at the same height (5’11). It’s not impossible.
LambeauPlain
June 13, 2025 at 02:13 pm
I was like many fans when Sam came to the Packers as an UDFA..."a WR who switched to, and played one season of CB? Yeah, that's going to work... he's a flyer. Long shot to make the team."
But after making many mental errors in camp, the light went on and he was named the 3rd CB! Amazing story.
Can it happen for Bo too? The two are nearly mirror images in height, weight, speed, and combine drills...even at the bench. And Bo was a far more successful football player in college.
"It’s not impossible." No, it is not.
GregC
June 13, 2025 at 06:59 am
Bo Melton being tried at CB is a fun story. No need to bother with the idiots, trolls, and jokesters who are claiming that this has anything to do with Jaire Alexander leaving the team.
I would guess there's less than a 50% chance that this actually works out, but it's better than the usual desperation move, such as the one the author mentions with UFDA Michael Clark switching from tight end to wide receiver. Melton clearly has the athletic profile to play CB. He's a talented enough athlete that he was drafted when he came out of college, and he has stuck on an NFL roster for a couple years.
Usually the Packers' fifth CB is just a special teams player anyway, and Melton is already a good special teams player. I don't think it's far-fetched that, with some training, he could play CB in a pinch.
TKWorldWide
June 13, 2025 at 07:12 am
Oh, how we long (Howie Long?) for the days of Bill Kazmaier trying out as a D-lineman!!
LeotisHarris
June 13, 2025 at 08:34 am
Man, now there's a memory! Dude filled out a jersey though, didn't he?
TKWorldWide
June 13, 2025 at 05:17 pm
He surely did! Very juicily!
LLCHESTY
June 13, 2025 at 05:01 pm
I was just a wee lad when went to TC but I remember how excited my friends and I were at him trying out and how we thought he'd be an OL wrecker at NT. IIRC he didn't last two weeks. Good way to learn football isn't just about strength on the lines. I think the craziest number he did was military pressing 450 lbs 3X.
dobber
June 13, 2025 at 10:29 am
"Usually the Packers' fifth CB is just a special teams player anyway, and Melton is already a good special teams player. "
Here are the snap counts for Packers CBs in 2024:
Nixon: 1020 defense, 149 ST
Stokes: 588, 19
Valentine: 547, 113
Alexander: 361, 14
Ballentine: 76, 195
Rochelle: 1, 121
Hadden: 0, 7
TOTALS: 2593, 618
Here are the snap counts for the Safeties in 2024:
McKinney: 1067, 162
Bullard: 786, 150
Williams: 474, 115
Anderson: 123, 257
Oladapo: 68, 65
Brown: 8, 16
TOTALS: 2526, 765
This is a pretty significant flip from 2023 where CB snaps outnumbered defensive snaps over a weak S group almost 3:2 (but the STs snaps were not hugely different). Really what I'm showing here is that the Packers leaned a little harder into their S than their CB in the nickel and dime last season on defense (2593 is not hugely different from 2526 at that volume of snaps) and significantly more on STs (which isn't uncommon). Maybe that's a reflection of JA's injury status and the "next man up" was typically a S. Remember, too, that Bullard and Williams both got dinged and missed time. I wouldn't be surprised if 2025's snap counts show that the Packers believe their strength in the secondary is at S over CB.
If that's true, and they like what they see in Melton, they could try to sneak him through as a 5th (or 6th) CB and ST gunner, and supplement the CB position on weekly activations from the PS if they know they might be shy on DB depth going into a given week. I think it's more likely--and the smarter move--they stow him on the PS so they can have a familiar depth piece at WR while they groom him on defense (assuming he looks like he belongs).
GregC
June 13, 2025 at 11:36 am
Both of those plans sound plausible. He should be safe on the practice squad if they go that route.
Alberta_Packer
June 13, 2025 at 12:54 pm
Should Melton establish himself as a 3- Phase player - there is a high probability that another team will claim him if he is placed on the P.S. Nor would Melton have to accept the P.S. placement if his agent thinks that there may be a better alternative. Also Melton is still relatively young (having just turned 26) - in his prime - with 4.34 40 speed. He will be attractive to others.
dobber
June 13, 2025 at 02:15 pm
Maybe, but there's plenty of film out there on him at this stage, at least as a WR. Is he really more than a replacement level NFL WR who plays STs?
We could argue about it, but all I'll say is it's one thing to try to put him on the PS as a WR/ST guy trying to learn to play CB as compared to him being a guy who has shown he can play three positions capably. If he gets that far--far enough to say he can play all 3 capably--then he doesn't get cut.
Alberta_Packer
June 13, 2025 at 02:52 pm
Thinking Melton may be a 6/7 receiver on the Packers - a good team. However - potentially a 4/5 receiver on a bad team. In addition his value on STs. Even if he is unable to play CB5 - I see him being claimed - if cut.
LambeauPlain
June 13, 2025 at 02:24 pm
The Packers value nothing if not versatility. Melton could be in a similar boat as LVN who going to work at both DE and DT and increase his value for the team.
Bo has the more difficult assignment but he has already proven his value on STs. And it may be easier to roster a CB/WR/ST player than a the 6th or 7th WR/ST player.
There is a chance Bo will prove to be a stellar student at CB. And it may be easier to make the team as the 5th or 6th CB. His work ethic is very good.
DCCheesehead
June 13, 2025 at 08:17 am
THANK YOU! You reflected my sentiments exactly. And it’s worth noting the people who got bent out of shape over this don’t really have much else to get bent out of shape over because IT’S FREAKIN’ JUNE!!
HarryHodag
June 13, 2025 at 08:55 am
Social media: we've given everyone a megaphone. Most people shouldn't use it but they will.
Alberta_Packer
June 13, 2025 at 11:52 am
Often times people who troll and bluster do so because they lack perspective or a cogent argument.
Bitternotsour
June 13, 2025 at 09:04 am
Is Romeo Doubs (he of multiple concussions and in the final year of his contract) really a lock on this roster? I love the guy, but his position doesn't seem as secure to me as it does to the writer. Reed and Wicks are locks for sure.
dobber
June 13, 2025 at 10:43 am
"Is Romeo Doubs (he of multiple concussions and in the final year of his contract) really a lock on this roster? "
I think so, if he doesn't get dealt. I don't think, in a WR room that's looking for answers, he's in danger of getting cut.
Alberta_Packer
June 13, 2025 at 11:38 am
Not a lock if he sustains another concussion during training camp.
Coldworld
June 13, 2025 at 12:04 pm
Yes, the concern about Doubs (outside of future contact issues) isn’t his ability to contribute but how resilient he can be. It seems the Packers were not redshirting him and he wasn’t wearing that cap, so perhaps he and they both feel more confident about it than some of us feared? Nevertheless, concussions are unpredictable even by the specialists I am told.
NFLfan
June 13, 2025 at 09:08 am
I think it's fair to be concerned about a possible weak DL and corner room. There are not many options left from either group from which to choose. Packers were in a 'Catch 22' re: Jaire and I think they made the right move but the CB room needed replenishment the year before as we all knew Jaire was just not available and should not have been counted on.
WD
June 13, 2025 at 09:39 am
Some people act like Bo Melton is chopped liver. The only time he was t really thrown at was the New Year's Eve Vikings game in which he showed his true potential. I totally agree with Gute and Matt Lafleur "if anyone could play the two positions it would be Bo Melton"
Moreover, I don't think it is idiotic to think the Jaire loss has absolutely nothing to do with it. So what if it is "ONLY JUNE" I applaud Matt Lafleur and Gute for backing the idea. Time will tell, but the Packers have nothing to lose and a lot to gain. The coaches love players that can be versatile! It is a strength not a weakness. Put me in Bo's camp for Spec teams, CB, and WR.
Coldworld
June 13, 2025 at 12:25 pm
Melton’s problem is that he’s really a slot naturally. As such he’s best at the one WR role they are really deep at: Reed, Golden, Hardman as well perhaps …. All 3 can play gadget roles too, as can Williams. It’s no accident that Melton’s impact on offense came when Reed was sidelined, but now we have Golden too.
Major Snafu
June 13, 2025 at 12:34 pm
I'm with ya. You have nothing to lose and this shows some inventiveness I think the coaching staff is lacking on. My other take, a receiver can think in reverse and say what will this receiver try to do to me and I can be ready to stop it being a receiver myself.
dobber
June 13, 2025 at 10:03 am
"Remember a few years ago when a six-foot-six UDFA wide receiver named Michael Clark....the fan speculation was that he would magically bulk up and make the switch. "
This is one of my pet peeves: it seems that most tall, slow (for the position), WR draw plenty of "bulk him up and make him a TE" comments as if this is something that happens all the time. Allen Lazard was a great example. Sure, there's route-running and pass-catching in common, but most WR conversions are never going to develop the blocking skills to play TE...which means they end up bigger, slower WRs after they bulk up.
If positional changes for somewhat similar positions is hard, what's it got to be like to move from O to D?
GregC
June 13, 2025 at 11:39 am
The Packers have had a few TEs over the years who had converted from WR when they were in college, but they lost their speed when they bulked up. At least converting from WR to CB does not require a change in body type. Lots of new skills to learn though, obviously.
Bitternotsour
June 13, 2025 at 06:28 pm
You'll never convince me that Alan Lazard isn't a tight end. He's way more Jermichael Finley than he is Davante Adams
ricky
June 13, 2025 at 10:36 am
Apparently this is the time when fans warm up to go into full apocalypse mode once the season begins. Two losses in a row? Fire everyone and bring in some "names". Get Belichick! Make his girlfriend GM if that is what it takes! This reminds me of the Bill Murray rant in "Ghostbusters": "Human sacrifice. Dogs and cats living together, Mass hysteria!"
the_gavia_pass
June 13, 2025 at 11:52 am
we played a championship with ladarius gunter as CB1 on julio jones....so everything is possible in GB.
I still can't understand how #12 could carry the packers to a championship with that weak roster
13TimeChamps
June 13, 2025 at 02:04 pm
Weak Roster!?
Offense:
Aaron Rodgers
Ryan Grant, John Kuhn
Donald Driver, Greg Jennings, Jordy Nelson. James Jones, Randall Cobb
Jermichael Finley
Brian Bulaga, Chad Clifton, Josh Sitton, T.J. Lang, Scott Wells
Defense:
B.J. Raji, Ryan Pickett
Clay Matthews, A.J. Hawk, Desmond Bishop
Charles Woodsen, Tramon Williams, Sam Shields, Nick Collins, Morgan Burnett
Mason Crosby
You really should stop commenting on things you know nothing about. You're embarrassing yourself.
dobber
June 13, 2025 at 02:18 pm
I think he's talking about the 2016 NFCCG where the Packers got smoked by the Falcons.
13TimeChamps
June 13, 2025 at 02:48 pm
If so, it wasn't very clear. And tbh, he has so many negative posts on here, it's hard to keep them all straight. I've never understood "fans" that only find the negative in teams that they follow, constantly ripping management, the coaches, players, etc. But, to each their own I guess.
LambeauPlain
June 13, 2025 at 02:33 pm
Yes and an even better roster when you add additional starters in Cullen Jenkins, Desmond Bishop and Frank Zombo on D.
Alberta_Packer
June 13, 2025 at 12:21 pm
No - Melton is not JA's replacement. It is Nate Hobbs. Besides JA was a CB1 - while Melton is auditionning for CB 5/6. Very different job descriptions - as CB5/6 primary role will be on special teams - then secondarily as a spot CB.
Also the Travis Hunter model is exactly what Melton is attempting to replicate - i.e. a multi-phase player who can play Offense, Defense and Special Teams. Of course the big difference being that Hunter can do so as a starter - while Melton as a depth player (Offense & Defense).
Should Melton be successful in adding CB5/6 to his resume - then he will exponentially increase his chances of making of final roster. Personally, I think he succeeds.
Coldworld
June 13, 2025 at 12:33 pm
It’s not really 5/6th corner, it’s perimeter corner. One could argue he’d might be the 4th player up in such scenarios. Nixon, Valentine and Hobbs are the only ones proven outside, and one of the latter 2 may be in the slot at any given time. On paper he profiles better on the perimeter athletically than any one else behind them. I don’t see him being used inside. It’s really not that outrageous that he might end up coming on situationally if we are down a CB and playing against a deeper passing team.
Alberta_Packer
June 13, 2025 at 02:00 pm
Assuming CB4 typically refers to a cornerback who is fourth on a team's depth chart. - I currently have:
CB1 - Kisean Nixon
CB2 - Nate Hobbs
CB3 - Carrington Valentine
CB4 - Javon Bullard (slot)
Now the Packers could use another perimeter CB - with only Nixon, Hobbs and Valentine proven at that position. So Melton could very much be in the running for CB4 (perimeter). Also Melton could be training as a slot corner. That is t.b.d. However for now - at least on paper and in terms of depth - I see Melton as part of the group who is competing for CB5+.
Coldworld
June 13, 2025 at 05:14 pm
My understanding (I think primarily from Bill Huber), is that he’s only been playing on the perimeter and that there is no plan to use him inside. Maybe that changes, but rather like Shields, he profiles as a boundary corner and we are also seemingly deeper in slot/inside types in addition to Bullard/Hobbs/Nixon, King and Hadden seem to profile best there.
Bitternotsour
June 13, 2025 at 06:31 pm
why put a guy with 4.3 speed inside. makes no sense.
Alberta_Packer
June 13, 2025 at 09:15 pm
More boundary depth is required - particularly as King and Hadden appear to lack the long speed to play the perimeter. Whereas Melton possesses that gear.
Major Snafu
June 13, 2025 at 12:32 pm
I like it. Go Bo go. We all support your effort to be all that you can be. Besides the guy your replacing wasnt all that good anyways so you may with work be better.
CheeseEdWest2
June 13, 2025 at 01:46 pm
Sorry, can you tell me again what month it is?
the_gavia_pass
June 13, 2025 at 02:06 pm
btw valentine had a better pff grade 70 than nixon 65. it's true nixon had 1000 snaps and valentine just 500. but valentine is younger and may be with upside.
bullard was almost trash as cb.
Bitternotsour
June 13, 2025 at 06:32 pm
Metrics from PFF are for people who don't understand what they're looking at.
the_gavia_pass
June 15, 2025 at 02:58 am
on big numbers their failure rate is low. anyway it was clear on the field valentine is a better bet than nixon because nixon ha reached his top and can only stay or decline. valentine is growing...even if increased snaps could impact on his numbers.
none of them is anytime close to alexander of course but our GM was sleeping on the CB postiion the last 2-3 years
cdoemel
June 13, 2025 at 06:03 pm
Alex McGough