Who Should I Start? Bo Melton or Jordan Watkins

Thursday, June 12, 3:17 PM

Per NFL.com's Grant Gordon, Green Bay Packers wide receiver Bo Melton took practice reps with the defensive backs during this week's mandatory minicamp. "Everybody turned and looked at me like, 'What are you doing?'" said Melton on Wednesday. Despite this week marking the first time that the 26-year-old ran with the DBs, it isn't the first discussion he and coach Matt LaFleur have had about it. Reportedly, when Melton joined the team in 2023, LaFleur inquired about his defensive prowess from the short time he spent in Rutgers' defensive backfield early in his collegiate career. The former Scarlet Knight hasn't just been an offensive asset for the Pack during his tenure with the squad, as he's also recorded four tackles on 154 career special-teams snaps. Whether he sticks remains to be seen, but it's a smart move for Green Bay to try to develop him at the position after the departure of his former teammate Jaire Alexander.

Friday, June 13, 12:31 PM

San Francisco 49ers rookie fourth-round wide receiver Jordan Watkins hasn't been perfect in offseason workouts this spring, but The Athletic's Matt Barrows writes that he has stood out in the way that Ricky Pearsall (hamstring) did a year ago. He took a number of snaps with the first-team offense with Pearsall, Brandon Aiyuk (knee) and Jauan Jennings (calf) sidelined, showcasing his speed and fluidity in routes. Watkins doesn't break stride when catching the ball, which makes him an asset on crossing routes that are such a big part of head coach Kyle Shanahan's offense. The 23-year-old also has thick legs and a big lower body, which should help him break tackles and pick up yards after the catch. Watkins had nine total touchdowns at Ole Miss in 2024, and while he probably won't get on the field much in his rookie season, he could be an immediate factor on special teams.