The Green Bay Packers wasted no time tending to a glaring roster hole in the draft, taking South Carolina cornerback Brandon Cisse with the 52nd overall pick. They followed up in the sixth round by snagging Domani Jackson out of Alabama. From a talent and value perspective, those are two home-run selections.
By aggressively attacking their needs at the position, the Packers also signaled the likely end of the Bo Melton experiment as a hybrid cornerback-receiver. On last season's sparse depth chart, Melton secured a roster spot by converting to the defensive side of the ball. His two-way ability consistently impressed coaches during practice.
On Sundays, however, Melton never made it onto the field in his new role. With extra bodies in the mix this year, he won't have the luxury of sneaking onto the 53-man unit by switching positions.
Bo Melton must resort to receiving skills to secure spot on Packers roster
Cisse could compete for a starting job as soon as this season; his floor is that high coming out of college. Carrington Valentine should feel the pressure already.
It wouldn't be surprising, either, to see Jackson, Kamal Hadden, and Shemar Bartholomew duke it out for the last couple of spots. Throw Melton in, too, but most likely, the Packers will carry six cornerbacks at most. Four slots are reserved for Keisean Nixon, Valentine, Benjamin St-Juste and Cisse.
For their parts, Hadden and Bartholomew both received defensive snaps last season. That's more than Melton, a 2022 seventh-rounder, can say. Green Bay is high on Jackson, who boasts both size and speed. There is a clear frontrunner for odd man out.
Melton can definitely still crack the team, but if he does, it will be back at his old position as a receiver and special teams player.
As injuries racked the roster, he saw more time there anyway last season. Between rushing and receiving, he finished the year with nine total touches for 142 scrimmage yards and a touchdown. Melton also played 185 snaps on special teams.
While the Packers hope to be healthier in 2026, he should still have an opportunity. The receiver room lost Romeo Doubs to free agency. Dontayvion Wicks was traded. Green Bay did not add a receiver in the draft.
That leaves Melton as the projected No. 6 receiver, competing with Skyy Moore and Will Sheppard at the backend of the rotation. After he signed his exclusive rights tender in free agency, the Packers will still want to find a place for him.
For all intents and purposes, however, the experiment at cornerback should be over.
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