There has been much said and written about the Green Bay Packers wide receiver room this offseason. Unlike many other teams, they do not have a single player that they would consider their number one target. Instead, many media members (and Packers fans) claim that Green Bay actually has four wide receivers that could be their top pass catcher on any given week.
These wide receivers, Jayden Reed, Dontayvion Wicks, Romeo Doubs, and Christian Watson are all, indeed, very talented pass catchers. It is plausible that any one of them could be a wide receiver one or two on just about any team in the NFL.
However, there is often one player left out when discussing the Packers’ wide receiver room, and he should not be. Late last season, Bo Melton erupted onto the scene and is considered a lock for the 53-man roster this season.
The Green Bay Packers Found a Diamond in the Rough in Wide Receiver Bo Melton
Bo Melton was originally drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL Draft. However, he did not make it onto their 53-man roster and he was released. They later re-signed him onto their practice squad, but the Packers claimed him in December of 2022. He has been with Green Bay ever since.
As with Seattle, Melton spent most of his time with the Packers on their practice squad. However, a series of injuries to their young wide receivers in late 2023 meant that Melton was finally going to get his chance to play in an NFL regular season game.
Melton’s big breakout came in Green Bay’s Week 17 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings at Lambeau Field. It was the fourth game in which he appeared, but it was by far the best.
In that game, Melton became the first Packers receiver to have a 100-yard performance in 2023, hauling in six catches for 105 yards and a touchdown.
Melton remained active for Green Bay’s two games in the NFL Playoffs as well, catching a touchdown in their 24-21 loss to the San Francisco 49ers.
Seattle Seahawks Writer Says Bo Melton’s Success with the Green Bay Packers Is an Indictment on Pete Carroll
As mentioned, Melton was originally drafted by the Seahawks in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Now that Seattle is going through some serious changes at the top of their organization, many things that occurred towards the end of Pete Carroll’s tenure as head coach are being called into question.
One of these things was the decision not to add Melton to their 53-man roster back in 2022. Lee Vowell of 12th Man Rising recently wrote:
“Melton is almost a certain lock to make the Packers roster in 2024. Green Bay is an ascending team and apparently knows best how to use Melton. Pete Carroll and the Seahawks did not. Now, Dareke Young might not make Seattle’s 2024 roster while Melton is on a team likely bound to make the postseason.”
Building an NFL roster is not easy, but the comment above really makes one appreciate all the hard work and scouting Brian Gutekunst and the Packers’ front office do in order to give Matt LaFleur a surplus of weapons.
