The Green Bay Packers made wide receiver Bo Melton one of the team’s captains for Sunday’s Week 6 matchup against brother Max Melton and the Arizona Cardinals.
The Green Bay Packers made wide receiver Bo Melton one of the team’s captains for Sunday’s Week 6 matchup against brother Max Melton and the Arizona Cardinals.
Bo Melton is the Packers’ special teams captain. As one of three captains this week, Melton will take part in the coin flip pre-game.
Through five games, Bo Melton has two catches for 40 yards and two rushes for eight yards across 81 offensive snaps. He’s also played 37 special teams snaps, including 31 covering punts and kickoffs.
On the other sideline Sunday will be Max Melton, a rookie for the Cardinals. He will play snaps on both special teams and as a perimeter cornerback, potentially setting up on-field matchups between the two brothers.
The Melton family is supporting both brothers with a unique uniform at Lambeau Field on Sunday:
Linebacker Quay Walker is the defensive captain — he’ll be a vital part of containing Kyler Murray and James Conner. Right tackle Zach Tom is the offensive captain.
The Packers did not elect season long captains. The team announces weekly captains pre-game.
Coach Matt LaFleur on Bo Melton facing little brother Max Melton on Sunday: “I was teasing Bo about, big brother’s gotta whoop up on little brother, so you gotta make it happen.”
Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur knows a little something about facing a little brother. Just last week, LaFleur’s Packers beat the Los Angeles Rams, who have Mike LaFleur — Matt’s little brother — as their offensive coordinator.
So, what’s LaFleur’s advice for wide receiver Bo Melton before he faces little brother Max Melton on Sunday at Lambeau Field?
“Kick his ass,” LaFleur said Thursday while smiling.
Max Melton, a rookie, is a cornerback for the Arizona Cardinals. With Bo playing snaps at receiver for LaFleur and Max handling perimeter snaps on defense for the Cardinals, it’s possible the two Meltons will be on the field together and competing against one another on Sunday.
LaFleur believes it would be a big-time battle between the Meltons.
“If Max Melton is anything like Bo Melton, which I think he is, just evaluating him during the draft process, I know he’s going to be the ultimate competitor,” LaFleur said.
And he wants big brother to impose his will.
“I was teasing Bo about, big brother’s gotta whoop up on little brother, so you gotta make it happen.”
Bo Melton latched on with the Packers in 2023 and emerged as a playmaker for LaFleur’s team down the stretch, producing a 100-yard receiving game in Week 17 and catching a touchdown pass in San Francisco during the postseason. Through five games in 2024, Melton has two catches for 40 yards and two rushes for eight yards.
The Cardinals made Max Melton the 43rd overall pick in the 2024 draft.
Both Melton brothers went to Rutgers and ended up as NFL draft picks. Who will write the next chapter in the Melton’s football journey? Sunday’s showdown at Lambeau Field provides a terrific opportunity.
For more on the Melton showdown, read Wes Hodkiewicz’s long-form story at Packers.com.
Matt LaFleur wants better blocking in front of A.J. Dillon, and Bo Melton to have more aggressive hands catching the ball.
During Saturday’s preseason opener in Cleveland, Green Bay Packers running back A.J. Dillon failed to get a yard on three consecutive carries and receiver Bo Melton had two or three drops — creating two of the more disappointing individual performances of the 23-10 win over the Browns.
Coach Matt LaFleur said the run blocking “wasn’t good enough” on any of the three carries for Dillon, who ended his day with four carries for two yards. After the Packers got to 2nd-and-1, Dillon received three straight carries but was stopped short on all three, including on fourth down.
“There wasn’t a whole lot of daylight to run the ball,” LaFleur said Monday. “Certainly, when you have three cracks at it to get a yard and you don’t get it done, that’s a problem. We have to play with a little better leverage. Get our pad level down…The opportunity wasn’t great in any of the (three) situations.”
The telling stat: Dillon finished with only two rushing yards, but he gained seven yards after first contact, per Pro Football Focus.
At receiver, Melton had a couple of potential catches bounce off his normally reliable hands. LaFleur said the fix is being more aggressive, but he also said the quarterbacks could deliver a better ball.
“You have to look both sides of it. A couple of those were definitely catchable balls, and any time it hits you in the hands you gotta make the play,” LaFleur said. “I think there were a couple of times where he had to be a little more aggressive and not allow it to get into his body. At the same time, the quarterback has to get it out in front of him. Certainly, plays we know he’s capable of making, and we’ve seen him make, but it all starts with aggressive hands mindset.”
On his first drop, the ball from Sean Clifford was slightly behind Melton. A later drop came in the red zone on a better throw from Michael Pratt.
Melton also mishandled a jet sweep handoff but was able to recover on the bounce and gain positive yards.
Dillon, now in his fifth season, is competing for snaps as the backup behind starter Josh Jacobs. Melton, who came on strong to end last season, is likely the fifth receiver on the depth chart behind Romeo Doubs, Christian Watson, Jayden Reed and Dontayvion Wicks.
Former Rutgers football head coach Chris Ash is back in the NFL.
Chris Ash, who spent over three years as a head coach with Rutgers football, has returned to the Jacksonville Jaguars with a role in their personnel department.
Having spent the last two years as a defensive backs coach with the Las Vegas Raiders, Ash will work with the Jaguars as a scout. A former defensive coordinator at Ohio State prior to his time at Rutgers, Ash has spent the last three years of his coaching career in the NFL.
Ash faced a pretty massive rebuild at Rutgers (2016-19). During his time at Rutgers, he posted an 8-32 (3-26 Big Ten) record. He was let go four games into the 2019 season.
He spent two years at Texas as their defensive coordinator before joining the coaching staff of the Jaguars as a safeties coach in 2021.
He then spent the last two years as the defensive backs coach of the Raiders. He was not retained by new Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce.
The role for Ash was first reported by John Shipley of Jaguar Report, a part of Fan Nation.
Source: Jaguars Hire Former Urban Meyer Staffer Chris Ash in Scouting Role https://t.co/W3IQlKsDpE
A number of his recruits went on to have success in the Big Ten and then the NFL, including Green Bay Packers wide receiver [autotag]Bo Melton[/autotag] and Kansas City Chiefs running back [autotag]Isiah Pacheco[/autotag].
[lawrence-related id=38723,38577,38714]
Both Melton and Pacheco played for Ash and then spent their final year in college under current head coach [autotag]Greg Schiano[/autotag]. Melton and Pacheco were Day 3 selections in the 2022 NFL draft.
Bo Melton has two elite traits that have helped him carve out a real role for the Green Bay Packers.
Green Bay Packers receiver Bo Melton has two traits that should ensure he has an on-going role for Matt LaFleur’s team: Elite speed, and the right mentality for run blocking.
LaFleur said Melton’s top traits — which emerged in full to end the 2023 season — help give the third-year receiver a role he can embrace.
“You always try to find what guys can do, and what they do really well. And Bo’s got an elite trait: he can run,” LaFleur said. “Any time you can add value in other areas…Bo is one of our best run blockers. He’s not the biggest guy, but it’s just the mentality he has. He’s got that dog mentality whether it’s run game or pass game. He’s willing to do whatever it takes to get out on the field. He’s embraced that, embraced his role, and he’s excelled in it.”
Melton, a seventh-round pick out of Rutgers in 2022, ran the 40-yard dash in 4.34 seconds at the NFL combine. He was the fifth fastest wide receiver and eighth fastest player at the combine overall in 2022. Among receivers, his 40-yard dash time is in the 94th percentile. There’s no question about it: Melton has elite speed.
Mentality is harder to measure. Melton might be listed at 5-11 and 189 pounds, but a receiver doesn’t have to be big to win in the run game. Effort and understanding can make any receiver a capable blocker.
LaFleur demands blocking effort and execution from receivers in his offense. Melton checks the box. At Pro Football Focus, Melton led all Packers receivers in run blocking grade over the final five games of the 2023 regular season.
Speed gives Melton real value in LaFleur’s spaced out passing game. Run-blocking effort ensures Melton can play in any situation.
Over the last five games of last season, Melton caught 16 passes for 218 yards and a score. He added another touchdown in the postseason. Can Melton build on his late-season surge, embrace his elite traits and help the Packers get even better on offense in 2024?
Packers WR Bo Melton is preparing to show his finish to the 2023 season wasn’t a fluke.
One of the best stories from the Green Bay Packers’ 2023 season was the emergence of wide receiver Bo Melton. Now, he’s on a mission to prove it wasn’t a fluke.
Despite spending most of last season on the practice squad, Melton made the most of his elevations to the gameday roster, turning 15 catches into 211 yards and a touchdown over the team’s final three games. His most impactful performance came in Week 17 when he became the first Packers receiver all season to eclipse 100 yards receiving in a single game. His 105 yards on six catches, including a touchdown, helped propel the team to a comfortable win over the Minnesota Vikings on New Year’s Eve.
Over the past six months, Melton has seemingly turned around the trajectory of his career. Once a 2022 seventh-round pick by the Seattle Seahawks, he projects to be a significant contributor for Green Bay’s offense.
Melton’s journey of hard work and perseverance has certainly caught the attention of his head coach.
“I think it’s a great story just being persistent and to continue to push forward even when maybe the stacks are kind of put up against you,” said Matt LaFleur. “He’s done an outstanding job. He is so disciplined in his approach and how he is. He is so consistent on a daily basis, and he brings so much value.
“That’s what this league is all about. Some guys come in and make an immediate impact. Other guys have to continue to battle and show that resiliency that it takes and just continue to chop away. When given the opportunity, that’s when you like to see those guys go out there and perform, and he’s done that.”
So far this offseason, Melton is picking up where he left off.
During Wednesday’s OTA practice, he made the play of the day when he used his blazing 4.3 speed to get past the defense for a 75-yard touchdown. It was a perfect throw from the arm of Jordan Love, who has enjoyed watching Melton grow from a wide-eyed practice squad player to a consummate professional who expects to make plays.
“I think anytime you can go out there and prove who you are as a player, it helps you get that confidence going,” said Love. “Bo is the same guy every day. You know what you’re going to get. Bo came in and he definitely wasn’t a starter last year, but he worked. Every day, you’d see him on the scout team making plays and getting a touchdown and celebrating, and he’s going to treat it like a game.
“He comes in and works, and that’s why it was no surprise when his number was called, and he goes out there and makes plays. You see he’s continued to do that this year, but you know what you’re going to get. He’s a consistent guy, and he goes out there and works and tries to find ways to get better.”
How Melton will factor into the offensive game plan on a weekly basis remains to be seen. He can take the top off a defense, but so can Christian Watson. Meanwhile, Jayden Reed, Romeo Doubs, and Dontayvion Wicks all possess a unique skill set and playmaking ability that defenses have to account for. The beauty is that the Packers do not have a clear-cut number-one receiver, which is part of why this unit could be lethal in 2024.
“It’s a lot of guys that can make plays. We got a great staff that can draw the best plays up,” said Melton. “We have a lot of guys that can do different things: speed, route runners, and physical guys. It could be dangerous for sure.”
Week 6 at Lambeau Field will be the Green Bay Packers vs. the Arizona Cardinals but also Melton vs. Melton.
Week 6 at Lambeau Field will be the Green Bay Packers vs. the Arizona Cardinals but also Melton vs. Melton.
Bo Melton, the Packers’ third-year wide receiver, will get a chance to face Max Melton, the Cardinals’ second-round pick at cornerback, on Sunday, Oct. 13 in Green Bay.
The older Melton can’t wait to face younger brother.
“I knew we played (the Cardinals) this year, but I was looking forward to when we were going to play them. When I saw Week 6, I’m like, alright, it’s going to be good,” Melton said Tuesday. “No more backyard anymore. Big stage. He’s going to be ready for it, and I’m definitely going to be ready for sure.”
Melton said he typically trained with his brother during the offseason, and they often faced each other one-on-one in practices at Rutgers.
“It’s going to be different seeing him on the other side but it’s going to be fun for sure,” Melton said. “He’s competitive…I used to get him all the time, he got me a couple times when he got a little older. Definitely ready for Week 6, for sure.”
Bo’s advice to Max entering the NFL? Keep grinding. A seventh-round pick of the Seattle Seahawks in 2022, Bo landed on the practice squad as a rookie but eventually blossomed after arriving in Green Bay. Now, he’s on track to be a legitimate weapon in the Packers passing game in 2024.
The two Meltons, who, as kids, would create their own players in Madden with the goal of making the NFL, are now both in the league and ready to attack their opportunities.
“To finally make it was definitely a blessing. We’re happy to be here. I know he’s happy to be here. We’re just going to keep working,” Melton said.
Max went to the Cardinals with the No. 43 overall pick in the 2024 draft. Bo said he had a feeling Max would go to Arizona after he took a pre-draft visit there.
“I was extremely happy,” Melton said. “He went to an official visit to Arizona, so when I saw them on the clock, man, they’re going to call him. They called him. My family was crying. They were excited. I’m really excited to see him. We play them Week 6, so definitely excited to see him there too.”
The NFL journey comes full circle for the Meltons on Oct. 13 at Lambeau Field.
Mike Tannebaum sees Max Melton as a good fit in the NFL.
Max Melton became the latest Rutgers football draft pick when the Arizona Cardinals took the cornerback in the second round of the NFL draft. And one former NFL general manager, who is now an ESPN analyst, sees Melton as a good fit with the Cardinals.
Melton, the No. 43 overall pick in last week’s NFL draft, goes to Arizona with multiple years of starting at Rutgers.
Melton had a strong four years at Rutgers where he had 113 total tackles, eight interceptions, 20 pass breakups, one forced fumble, and four fumble recoveries across 43 games. His NFL draft prospects took a significant upswing this offseason following a strong week at the Senior Bowl as well as running a 4.39 time in the 40 at the NFL combine.
Former NFL general manager Mike Tannenbaum, now an analyst with ESPN, likes the fit of Melton with the Cardinals.
“He’s a great athlete, with starting potential, excellent pick by the Cardinals,” Tannenbaum told Rutgers Wire.
Tannenbaum is a former NFL general manager who is best known for building the New York Jets into a team that made consecutive AFC Championship Game appearances. He drafted players such as Hall of Fame cornerback Darrelle Revis and Nick Mangold, who was three times an All-Pro selection at center.
He now works as analyst for ESPN where he covers the NFL.
Melton was a member of the Rutgers 2020 recruiting class. He committed to Rutgers shortly after the return of head coach Greg Schiano to the program.
[lawrence-related id=37754,37748]
He was a three-star recruit and the No. 22 player in New Jersey according to 247Sports.
With the Cardinals, Melton has the chance to factor into the two-deep immediately. The Cardinals have a need at cornerback and Melton should factor into a role in the team’s secondary.
[lawrence-related id=37669,37744]
He is the younger brother of [autotag]Bo Melton[/autotag], a wide receiver with the Green Bay Packers.
Remembering when Max Melton and Bo Melton each scored a touchdown in the same game.
On Thursday night, Max Melton accomplished a lifelong goal when he was selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the NFL draft. The former Rutgers football defensive back now joins his brother in the NFL.
His brother is Bo Melton, a wide receiver with the Green Bay Packers who is coming off a strong second season in the NFL. Bo Melton was also a standout with Rutgers. Max Melton landed a good spot with the Cardinals where he is likely so see significant snaps as a rookie.
During his time at Rutgers, Max Melton was a consistent performer on a talented defense. One of his best moments came during the 2021 season when he scored a touchdown in the same game as his brother Bo Melton,
Against Temple, the Melton brothers showcased their skills as they each scored touchdowns for the Scarlet Knights in a less than two-minute span. Bo Melton started the scoring with a 40-yard touchdown. However, Max didn’t let his brother have all the fun as he recorded a pick-six shortly after. It was a moment the two will never forget.
CFB: Rutgers WR Bo Melton hauls in a 40-yard TD gets his brother DB Max Melton follows up with a pick-six vs Temple https://t.co/uLUq49FZlS
In 43 games as a Scarlet Knight, Max Melton recorded 114 total tackles and eight interceptions. He added one touchdown to his resume during that stretch and forced one fumble. The 2024 draftee was also selected to the Fourth Team All-Big Ten by Phil Steele in December. While Rutgers continued to improve, Max Melton was at the center of their success.
[lawrence-related id=37689,37686,37664]
Although Melton wasn’t initially seen as a top 50 pick, his stock rose over the last few weeks. That was partly due to how well he did during the pre-draft process. Now, he will showcase his skills in the Arizona secondary.
Rutgers football’s Max Melton talks about possibly playing against his brother next season.
With the NFL Draft only a month away, Max Melton is expected to draw the interest of teams across the league. The New Jersey native is coming off a productive four-year stint at Rutgers, where he recorded 110 tackles. Depending on where he is drafted, he may get the opportunity to face his brother Bo Melton, who is with the Green Bay Packers.
On Tuesday morning, Max Melton was on Good Morning Football, where he discussed playing with his brother at Rutgers and what it would be like to potentially play Bo Melton in the NFL. While on the show, Max Melton was asked whether he would want to play with his brother or against him at the next level.
“Against, definitely against,” Melton said.
“It’d be cool to get against my brother at practice. I have been going against my brother ever since we were little, even in high school and college. I’d like to go against him when the lights go on.”
During his appearance on the show, Max Melton also reflected on scoring a touchdown in the same game as his brother while they both were at Rutgers.
“It was great, but I didn’t even know until after the game,” Melton said.
“When you’re in the line of war, you don’t really think about that stuff. I didn’t take until after the game when the media came up to me and said (that) you guys have a pretty good stat you might wanna know about.”
