Bo Melton is entering the most important summer of his Green Bay Packers career.
A year ago, he likely had no realistic shot at making the 53-man roster as a wide receiver. The Packers moved him to cornerback, where there was far less depth. That experiment is over.
Melton played zero defensive snaps last season, and now, he's made a permanent switch back to receiver. While there is an opening following the exits of Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks, Melton's roster spot is far less guaranteed than it may initially seem, regardless of how much the Packers love him.
Why Bo Melton is under pressure for a spot on the Packers' 53-man roster
There's no longer any room at cornerback after the additions of Benjamin St-Juste, Brandon Cisse, and Domani Jackson. While there are technically more spots open at wide receiver, there's also a ton of competition.
Jayden Reed, Christian Watson, and Matthew Golden are roster locks. Reed and Watson just landed big extensions, while Golden is a first-round pick. Savion Williams, a third-rounder last year, isn't going anywhere, either.
Free-agent addition Skyy Moore has a clear path to a roster spot due to his return ability. Meanwhile, Isaiah Neyor is forcing the Packers to consider him after turning heads during the offseason program. Neyor has a golden opportunity at training camp.
Then there is J. Michael Sturdivant, an undrafted rookie with the talent to make an impact at camp. He provides more competition.
There's also a possibility that the Packers only keep five wide receivers.
Where does that leave Melton? He undoubtedly offers value. The veteran has experience in the Packers' offense, having caught 28 passes for 416 yards and two touchdowns over three seasons. He can also play on special teams, where his snaps have increased each year.
Is that enough? Only time will tell.
Melton offers depth on offense, but he has never carved out a consistent role. He can play on special teams, but so, too, can Skyy Moore. So can Savion Williams.
The Packers moved Melton to cornerback last summer, but he ended up playing snaps on offense and none on defense. He was a cornerback in name only, just with fewer opportunities to catch passes on the other side of the ball. He was mostly a special teams contributor, with 66 percent of his snaps coming in that phase.
It was unclear exactly what Melton's position was. The switch to cornerback reduced his role on offense, but he never played a snap on defense.
Moving back to his old position provides clarity, but he needs to prove he's one of the Packers' top five or six receivers this summer. Special teams alone might not be enough to retain a roster spot.
Even without Doubs and Wicks, the Packers have good receiving depth. Melton will face serious competition for a spot on the 53-man roster.
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