The Green Bay Packers are busily preparing for the 2025 NFL season as training camp is in full swing. Despite the fact that they have only been practicing for just a couple of weeks, there are already several storylines that both fans and reporters are closely monitoring.
Among these is the physicality with which Packers players are practicing. In the last few days alone, two players, Nate Hobbs and Rasheed Walker, have been reprimanded by head coach Matt LaFleur for being overly physical towards their teammates. That being said, there are no hard feelings among players as they work together towards a common goal: winning the Super Bowl.
But one other storyline that continues to draw intrigue is Bo Melton switching positions. Over the course of his brief NFL career, as well as in college, he was a wide receiver. Now, he is moving to cornerback.
Bo Melton Hopes to Make the Green Bay Packers Roster as a Cornerback
As a wide receiver at Rutgers, Melton caught 164 passes for 2,011 yards and 11 touchdowns in five seasons. After being selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL Draft, he spent the majority of his rookie season on their practice squad.
That is, until Green Bay poached him from Seattle in December of that year. He has spent each of the past two seasons with the Packers, and has 24 career receptions for 309 yards and a touchdown.
Green Bay signed Melton to a one-year $1.03 million contract in the early days of the offseason, a clear indication that they want him around. That being said, the wide receiver room was crowded already, and the Packers drafted two wide receivers with their first three picks this year.
And so, near the end of OTA’s, coaches had Melton take some practice reps with the cornerbacks, a position with far less competition. Over the course of the offseason, Green Bay added Nate Hobbs in free agency, but also bid adieu to Jaire Alexander, Robert Rochelle, Eric Stokes, and Corey Ballentine.
In short, if Melton is to make the Packers roster, his best chance was by playing defense, not offense.
Green Bay Packers Defensive Coordinator Jeff Hafley Has High Praise for Bo Melton
After it was made public knowledge that the Packers were trying Melton out at cornerback, general manager Brian Gutekunst said that it was a switch that the team had kept in the back of their mind ever since they got him. His brother, Max Melton, is a starting cornerback for the Arizona Cardinals, and Bo has shown the basis of the skillset necessary to play the position while playing special teams.
And so, when training camp began, the team made the switch official. Melton changed his jersey number from 80 to 16 and has been practicing exclusively on defense.
Obviously, changing positions is never easy, and the move from offense to defense is an extreme one, especially at the highest level of the game. But defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley loves what he has seen from Melton so far in training camp.
He told reporters on Wednesday, “Chances are the guy is going to succeed. I believe in him.”
#Packers DC Jeff Hafley says he was “excited” about the idea of moving Bo Melton to cornerback. Notes his quick feet in back pedal and reactionary skills that give him a chance. Knows it’s going to be a process, but says he’ll be patient with Melton: “Chances are the guy is going…
— Ryan Wood (@ByRyanWood) July 30, 2025
Obviously, Melton is not expected to play any meaningful amount of defensive snaps. At least, the team should hope he doesn’t. Him doing so would mean projected starters Carrington Valentine, Keisean Nixon, and Hobbs are hurt.
But Melton has proven his value on special teams, which is where the Packers would really like to keep him. But special teams players also need a primary position, and Melton’s is now cornerback. The big question is whether or not he will be able to beat out the likes of Micah Robinson and Kalen King for a spot on the roster.
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