In a moment they dreamed about as kids, Arizona Cardinals cornerback Max Melton and Green Bay Packers wide receiver Bo Melton will take the field as NFL opponents for the first time on Sunday.
The Melton brothers will have a fan section of 20-plus when the Cardinals visit Lambeau Field.
“Ever since I could talk really, ever since we played football,” Max Melton said in a media scrum this week. “This is like the first time since college that I get to line up against him as a (defensive back) … I just hope the stars align so where I can line up against him.”
Bo Melton is three years older than his brother and third-year pro, while Max Melton is getting his feet wet as a rookie taken in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
They were teammates at Rutgers for two seasons in 2020-21 after growing up in New Jersey.
RELATED STORIES
The Cardinals have relied on Melton more and more, as the rookie played a career-high 50% of his team’s defensive snaps last Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers. And he has shown positive signs early in his career, his coaches say.
“When his technique is on, he can be really good, but there’s certain plays we pointed out with him, and he’d be the first one to tell you he’s got to make sure that’s consistent,” head coach Jonathan Gannon said this week. “The toughness is there, the mental is there. He just needs to play.”
Bo Melton, a 2022 seventh-round draft pick, has played in all five games this year and has two catches on five targets for 40 yards.
Green Bay head coach Matt Lafleur, who earned a win over his brother and Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Mike Lafleur last week, was asked by reporters what his advice for Bo is.
“Kick his (expletive),” Lafleur said with a smile. “If Max Melton is anything like Bo Melton, which I think he is just evaluating him in the draft process, I know he’s going to be the ultimate competitor.”
With any luck, the two will get a chance to live out a boyhood dream by lining up against each other for the ultimate chance at bragging rights.
The Melton match at Lambeau Field will start at 10 a.m. on Sunday and can be heard on 98.7 and the Arizona Sports app.