Packers Secure Key Talent: Which Exclusive Rights Free Agents Are Coming Back?

There’s a quiet but steady buzz around Green Bay this week as the Packers have locked down three exclusive rights free agents, nudging them a bit closer to stability on the roster front. Wideout Bo Melton, punter Daniel Whelan, and running back Emanuel Wilson have all put pen to paper on their tenders, a move that signals the team’s intent to hold onto some promising pieces without breaking the bank. Now, Wilson’s path has been nothing short of a rollercoaster — undrafted out of Fort Valley State, a fleeting Broncos stint, then snagged by Green Bay where he managed over 500 rushing yards and five touchdowns across receptions and carries alike. Melton, meanwhile, has been chipping away quietly; from a seventh-round selection by the Titans to practice squad stints and finally making his mark in Green Bay’s offense over the last couple of seasons. And Whelan — well, punt after punt, he’s been a consistent if underappreciated force, flipping field positions with solid averages that keep opposing offenses honest. This trio re-signing might seem like just another footnote in the offseason shuffle, but to those of us who follow every ripple in the NFL pond, it’s a subtle sign of the Packers’ blueprint taking shape. It’s fascinating to see how these journeymen are carving out their space— a story worth watching as the 2024 campaign unfolds. LEARN MORE

He entered the NFL as a seventh-round pick of the Titans in 2022. Melton was on the Seahawks’ practice squad in 2022 before the Packers signed him to their active roster on Dec. 27, 2022.Whelan, 26, was the Packers’ punter the past two seasons, averaging 46.2 yards on 113 punts with a net of 39.5.Melton, 25, appeared in all 17 games for the Packers last season and totaled eight receptions for 91 yards.He joined the Packers and made their roster, appearing in seven games before landing on injured reserve.Melton played five games with one start in 2023, making 16 receptions for 218 yards and a touchdown.

He entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent out of Fort Valley State in 2023, signing with the Broncos. He lasted only a few days before the Broncos cut him. The Packers re-signed three exclusive rights free agents on Tuesday, according to the NFL’s transactions wire. Wilson, 25, appeared in all 17 games for the Packers and had 103 rushes for 502 yards and four touchdowns and added 11 receptions for 48 yards and a touchdown.Wide receiver Bo Melton, punter Daniel Whelan and running back Emanuel Wilson signed their tenders.