The Green Bay Packers are shaking up their roster in a way nobody saw coming — starting with the surprise release of All-Pro cornerback Jaire Alexander and followed by a truly unexpected experiment: giving wide receiver Bo Melton reps at cornerback during minicamp.
Yes, you read that right.
Let’s start with the big move. On Monday, the Packers officially released Alexander, their lockdown corner and one of the most talented defensive backs in the league when healthy. The move frees up $17.1 million in cap space for 2025 and another $17.5 million for 2026. It’s a business decision — but it comes with risk.
Alexander earned Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors in both 2020 and 2022. He’s been that good. But the issue hasn’t been talent — it’s been availability. Since 2021, injuries have taken a toll. He missed all but four games that year and played just 14 combined across 2023 and 2024. As dominant as he’s been when on the field, Green Bay made the tough call to move forward without him.
And here’s where it gets even more surprising.
During Tuesday’s minicamp, the Packers tried out wide receiver Bo Melton on defense — at cornerback. According to multiple reports, including Andy Herman and Matt Schneidman, Melton was lined up in the secondary and taking reps on the other side of the ball. It’s rare, bold, and not something you expect to see outside of a video game.
Melton, a seventh-round pick in 2022, has carved out a modest role as a depth wideout. In 22 appearances, he’s caught 24 passes for 309 yards and one touchdown. But now? He’s being looked at as a potential emergency answer in a cornerback room that just lost its biggest piece.
Is this a long-term solution? Probably not. But with the departure of Alexander, the Packers are clearly willing to explore everything. Think of it as a Travis Hunter-type experiment — even if it’s more of a minicamp novelty than a full-time shift. Still, it tells you how creative (or desperate) things might be in Green Bay’s defensive meeting room right now.
As for Alexander, he may no longer wear green and gold, but expect his phone to start ringing soon. At 28, he’s still very much in his prime, and when healthy, he’s one of the best cover men in the NFL. His resume includes 12 interceptions, 70 pass breakups, and three forced fumbles — and he played a key role in the Packers’ deep playoff runs during the 2019 and 2020 seasons.
Teams with Super Bowl aspirations and questions in the secondary will take a hard look. Think: Buffalo, Cincinnati, the Chargers, the Rams, maybe even Minnesota. Durability is a concern, but high-end corners don’t hit the market often — especially ones with Alexander’s pedigree.
The Packers, meanwhile, are turning the page. Whether Melton’s defensive reps are a sign of innovation or just a summer experiment, one thing is clear: this Green Bay roster is officially in transition.
