Packers Rumors: Brian Gutekunst Finally Gets Honest on Bo Melton Position Change

One of the most anticipated, yet controversial, roster decisions the Green Bay Packers made this offseason was releasing two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Jaire Alexander. While there is no question that Alexander is among the NFL’s best cornerbacks when healthy, the problem is that he has had a hard time staying on the field.

After signing a contract extension that made him the league’s highest paid player at his position (at the time) Alexander played just four games in 2021 due to a shoulder injury. After stellar 2022 season that saw him make the Pro Bowl and be named Second Team All-Pro, he played just seven games in each of 2023 and 2024.

Alexander’s frequent injuries, as well as his perceived deteriorating relationship with Green Bay’s front office, led the Packers to attempt to trade him this offseason. When no trade partners could be found, the team decided to release him. Alexander has since signed with the Baltimore Ravens.

The Green Bay Packers Have Questions at the Cornerback Position without Jaire Alexander

Even before the Packers released Alexander, many felt Green Bay would make the cornerback position a major area of focus this offseason. After all, in addition to Alexander being released, the team also lost Corey Ballentine, Robert Rochelle, and Eric Stokes to free agency.

And while they did sign Nate Hobbs and select Micah Robinson in the seventh round of the NFL Draft, they did not do anything else major to address the position.

To be fair, they realistically did not have to. After all, Alexander barely saw the field at all over the last two seasons, and the cornerbacks all played just fine.

That being said, they did start to experiment on something during OTA’s by having wide receiver Bo Melton practice with the defense at cornerback. At the time, general manager Brian Gutekunst kind of shrugged it off and said they were going to wait and see.

But now, it sounds like Melton is officially making the change.

Green Bay Packers General Manager Brian Gutekunst Gets Honest About Bo Melton Changing Positions

The fact of the matter is that Melton has a very slim chance of making the 53-man roster as a wide receiver. With Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed, Dontayvion Wicks, Matthew Golden, and Savion Williams all pretty much guaranteed spots on the roster, there are about seven other players attempting to take one or two open spots at the position.

But it is also true that Green Bay re-signed Melton to a two-year contract this offseason. Why would they do that if they did not see a place for him on the team?

Well, it turns out that place might be on defense.

Speaking with reporters after the first day of training camp, which saw Melton sporting jersey number 16 instead of 80, Gutekunst said, “I mean, he’s obviously an established player, and to do something like this, it’s not easy.He’s one of those guys that, from the time we scouted him coming out of college, we thought he had that kind of ability. When we brought him here, it was something we had in the back of our minds that, ‘Hey, this might be something we could do with him.’

“I’m sure there will be good days and bad days like there is at every position. He’s kind of a rare, mentally tough kid that we’re excited to see where this might take him.”

In addition to Hobbs and Robinson, the Packers have Carrington Valentine and Keisean Nixon projected to be their starters. After that, though, the depth is suspect, and Melton could find his way onto the roster as a special teams ace and part-time corner.