The Green Bay Packers have found themselves in need of some extra defensive back help following the expected release of former stud starter Jaire Alexander, and it appears as though this coaching staff is leaving no stone unturned in their quest to find some worthwhile internal replacements.
Green Bay may not have the deepest cornerback room, but their wide receiver depth is some of the best in the league. Such a move has pushed former draft pick Bo Melton out of an expanded role. However, his career may have a second wind if he can play a role in replacing Alexander on defense.
At the beginning of Packers practice, Melton started working with the defensive backs and continued to get some extra reps on that side of the ball. Nothing like learning an entirely new position in a completely different area of the game in what many consider a make-or-break year for him.
The Packers are at the point in the offseason where wide receivers are being stuck over at cornerback. This move could either make the coaching staff look like pure, unadulterated geniuses or desperate fools trying anything and everything to replace Alexander.
Packers WR Bo Melton now getting reps in at cornerback
Melton is unlikely to receive any major wide receiver snaps this season. On top of holdovers from years past, like Jayden Reed and Romeo Doubs, the addition of Matthew Golden and Savion Williams in the NFL Draft has pushed him even further down the depth chart.
Melton, who ran a 4.34 40-yard dash in college at Rutgers, has the high-end athletic ability needed to possibly make this transition. Moving from wide receiver to cornerback has been done before (who remembers Quinton Dunbar?), but Melton would be one of a very select few to actually pull this off.
Melton may have the genes for the defensive side of the ball, as his younger brother, Max Melton, is poised to be an integral part of the Arizona Cardinals' secondary this season. Melton's short-area quickness and hands might be able to help him make the move with some aplomb.
If the Packers want to actually turn Melton into a Gen Z version of Troy Brown, it might not be the craziest idea in the world. Matt LaFleur isn't willing to let an athlete of Melton's quality possibly end up on a rival team, so he's trying to find some use for him.