Cory's Corner: Change Is Good
Bo Melton is one of the most athletic players on the Packers roster. It only makes sense to see what else he can do.
Heading into the 2025 season, all the talk will be centered on how many things Travis Hunter can do.
But should we start talking about Bo Melton?
Packers coach Matt LaFleur is putting Melton through an experiment to see if he can handle playing wideout and cornerback. Many people are against it because they think it’s a gimmick or it’s silly.
Melton is one of the best athletes on the team and LaFleur just wants to get him on the field more often. I think it makes sense. Here’s a guy that is lightning quick and has made numerous big play catches. And now with Jaire Alexander getting released, it only makes sense for the Packers to make sure every stone isn’t left unturned.
“Obviously, he’s a real talented player and has produced,” said LaFleur on Tuesday. “How he shows up everyday ready to compete and give his best effort … you can always expect a lot of great things, whatever it is he’s doing.”
So many people have complained about a lack of explosiveness and athleticism on defense. Yet, when a coach thinks out of the box and hand delivers those traits, there are people that still don’t like it.
Does that mean that it’s going to work? No. It actually might crash and burn. But I give LaFleur credit for doing something different. The NFL is a copycat league and getting people to change is next to an impossible task.
I think this decision, whether it succeeds or fails, shows that LaFleur is willing to do whatever it takes. Heck, if he’s looking for a spark maybe he can split Brandon McManus out wide and catch the defense sleeping.
It also says something about Melton. Because LaFleur wasn’t going to try this experiment on a player that was going to grouse about it. There’s no use trying something if a player is going to continually complain. But that’s just the guy who Melton is.
“Off the field, Bo’s a great dude,” said Jordan Love. “He’s got a great personality. I feel like in the locker room, he connects with a lot of guys on the team. Then on the field, I mean, he’s a guy that does the right things. He’s very consistent with what he does.”
LaFleur really wants the Packers to be successful and he’s willing to do whatever it takes for that to happen. If that means ticking off the traditionalists, then so be it. He’d rather win in a different way than lose the same old tired way.
Let’s face it, the NFL isn’t getting easier. The Lions and Eagles are still huge roadblocks in the NFC and the Commanders, Buccaneers and Rams are up and coming teams that could win a lot of games.
The Packers are somewhere in the middle and an experiment like this could take this team over the top.
#Packers WR/CB Bo Melton(?)
Bo working with the DBs to start practice. 👀 pic.twitter.com/5kh0j4aMH1
— Marques Eversoll (@MarquesEversoll) June 10, 2025
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Cory Jennerjohn is a graduate from UW-Oshkosh and has been in sports media for over 15 years. He was a co-host on "Clubhouse Live" and has also done various radio and TV work as well. He has written for newspapers, magazines and websites. He currently is a columnist for CHTV and also does various podcasts. He recently earned his Masters degree from the University of Iowa. He can be found on Twitter: @Coryjennerjohn
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Comments (6)
Spock
June 14, 2025 at 08:16 am
As pointed out on another piece on this site, "It's JUNE, man." No one is really all that excited about an offensive player playing a few snaps on defense on a day the team is short of CB's.
LambeauPlain
June 14, 2025 at 09:44 am
I like the experiment with Bo. He's a football player and already contributes in a variety of ways. If he can add CB to his repertoire it increases his value to the team.
He may not be Sam Shield 2.0, but Bo matches all his athleticism. And Bo, like Sam, seems motivated to play CB. I don't believe Bo playing CB will "put the Packers over the top" (they already have one of the best, young rosters in the NFL), but it adds another talented player at a key NFL position.
It may not work out...and it just might.
There is usually a Cory comment I don't understand, like this one: "So many people have complained about a lack of explosiveness and athleticism on defense." Do they really? All I read about are the RAS scores on the D...the front 4 is very athletic and explosive. So is the LB corps. And the DBs, led by X, Nixon, Williams, Bullard, Valentine and now Hobbs are very athletic and explosive.
The explosive and athletic athletes on the Packer D have always been on the team. And last year Haf and his staff coached them up to #5 in points and #6 in yards allowed.
Heyward
June 14, 2025 at 07:14 pm
Shields switched to cornerback in college and not four years into his pro career. Big difference.
Packerpasty
June 14, 2025 at 09:57 am
its not an experiment, its already been said that he play "D" because they were short handed....much like a baseball team using a shortstop to pitch in a blowout game...lets not inflate MLF's ego anymore than it is...
GregC
June 14, 2025 at 10:05 am
Matt LaFleur: "If there is somebody that could potentially do both, he would be that guy."
PackerBackerAZ
June 14, 2025 at 02:58 pm
In week 17 2023, against the Vikings, Melton got his first and only start. He responded with 6 of 9 for 105 yds and one td. His average was 17+ and a long of 30+. If LaFleur holds Melton in such high regard, why didn't he ever get another opportunity?