Packers Q&A with Bo Melton

Bo Melton was a seventh-round pick by the Seahawks in the 2022 NFL Draft.

At Rutgers, he was the team’s leading receiver each of the last three years with career totals of 132 receptions for 1,683 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Before the draft, he ran his 40 in 4.34 seconds, the eighth-fastest time at the Scouting Combine. Melton failed to make Seattle’s roster, and the Packers signed him off their practice squad on Dec. 27.

Q: You ran one of the fastest 40s at this year’s Scouting Combine. How do you incorporate that into your game?

A: I trained actually with Christian Watson. We both trained together and we were running back-and-forth fast times. I knew I was fast. Christian is very fast. I knew that speed was a big part of my game and just being elusive, being open in spaces. I’m a catch-and-run type of game. Speed was just an added part to it.

Q: What were those battles like during training? You beat him at the Combine.

A: Well, Christian ran 4.2s all training so he’s a 4.2 guy. I know a lot of people will tell you he’s a 4.2 guy. I ran low 4.3s all training – 4.31, 4.30, 4.34, stuff like that. Christian, he ran a 4.25. I was catching him at first but then we got to the Combine and he ran a 4.36. I was playing around with him and stuff like that but I knew he was fast – you know, 4.25.

Q: So, you ran a 4.34. That probably makes you one of 20 fastest guys in the league. So, what’s it like to lose to someone in training?

A: Man, yeah, going against a faster guy, it’s like, ‘Dang. How fast can they get?’ (laughter) It’s been fun. It’s been a great experience as a rookie. Just taking it all in and being able to learn from a lot of people.

Q: Have you been able to follow Christian’s career?

A: I was on practice squad at Seattle and I was watching Christian. He’s put on a show along with the other receivers. I’m just blessed to be a part of the unit that they have here. From the veterans — Allen Lazard, Randall Cobb — to be able to be put in with that group and learn more is a blessing.

Q: I read that you’re a very good drummer.

A: I started playing when I was 2.

Q: And you’re self-taught?

A: I taught myself at 2 how to play the drums. Ever since then, I’ve just been playing. I stopped playing for a while, but I went to a museum in Seattle before I got here and they have drums in the museum. It’s called the MoPop Museum. I’ve still got it.

Q: How do you teach yourself when you’re 2?

A: My dad put a snare drum in front of me when I was a kid when I was 2 years old. That snare drum turned into a drum set when I was 4. Ever since then, I’m playing on electric drums sets and stuff like that, playing in church. My dad was a pastor, so I played in the church a lot. As I got older, just like in football, you learn from somebody else and I learned from somebody else and then I taught myself that. And YouTube videos helped get me better.

Q: Your brother is an all-Big Ten cornerback at Rutgers. What was it like growing up?

A: Always went against each other. It was very fun. We were in the backyard with it. When he got to Rutgers, we were going against each other every single day.

He’s one of the top-rated corners in college football, and he’s already on the map and he’s going to do great things. Going after him at practice, he would get me, I would get him, he would get me, I would get him. It was such a good-on battle. I think it made us better and got me to this point, and it’s going to get him to that point next.

Q: With competitive brothers, did you guys fight? For instance, (Packers center) Josh Myers needed stitches when his brother pushed him into a wall.

A: I wouldn’t say we were butting heads. Me and my brother have a great relationship. He would get me one time and I’d do little stuff to make him mad because I knew what’d tick him off, or he’d do little stuff to get me mad. If he sees that I’m not in the mood, he’ll get me mad so I can play better, and I’d do the same with him. That’s the only butt-heads thing we’d do.

We just went to work. When we got on the field, we knew it was work. No matter if I caught the ball on him or he had a PBU, it was all love at the end of the day.

Q: He’s going to be in the NFL in the next year or two. Two brothers in the NFL, that’s pretty awesome.

A: I can’t wait for him to get to the league. He’s definitely a day one/day two type of guy. A lot of people see it. I see him as day one because I went against him, I know who he is. He’s a crazy athlete. He’s going to do very good at testing. He’s going to be real good.

AT A GLANCE

Number: 80

Position: Receiver

Age: 23

Season: Rookie

College: Rutgers