The Green Bay Packers came up with a huge win last night over their NFC North division rival Minnesota Vikings. A huge reason for that was because of a former Rutgers wideout who is making the most of his opportunities in the NFL.
Bo Melton came to Rutgers as a 4-Star recruit with hopes of getting the Scarlet Knights back on their winning ways. While the Scarlet Knights were still in the process of rebuilding, Melton was overlooked in the 2022 draft and fell to the 7th round before being taken by the Seattle Seahawks.
Melton wasn’t able to make the active roster in Seattle which led to him being cut and becoming a free agent. He signed with the Packers late last year and was still just stuck on the practice squad. Green Bay would have an offseason like they did years ago with Brett Favre, trading the very man who replaced him because they had confidence in his replacement. With Aaron Rodgers going to the Jets, so did many of the players that played with him in Titletown. That included Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb.
Green Bay went all in on a youth movement however Melton was still left stuck on their practice squad. Bo finally got his chance in Week 15. He was targeted two times and had a catch in the game. With Packers breakout rookie Jayden Reed sidelined on Christmas Eve, Melton saw more time. Jordan Love gained confidence in 2nd year wideout targeting him six times (tied for the team lead) and Melton delivered with 4 catches for 44 yards in the win.
Fast forward to New Year's Eve. A must win game against a division rival on the road to keep Green Bay’s playoff hopes alive. It was Rutgers very own Bo Melton who broke out to lead the Packers in yards and to a huge win on the road. Bo became the first Packers wideout this year to have a 100-yard receiving game and found the endzone when Love hit him for a game sealing score late in the 3rd quarter.
Maybe I am biased because I have been a Packers fan my whole life and graduated from Rutgers, but Melton reminds me of Donald Driver (fittingly he wears Driver's number 80). Driver was also a 7th round pick and when he finally got the chance, he proved to be one of the most reliable and loved wideouts in Packers history.
Sure, it's only three games, and by no means am I saying Melton WILL be like Driver, but Jersey’s very own is showing just how good he can be.
