Experienced safety Ifeatu Melifonwu has been a Detroit Lion throughout the Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell period in Detroit.
Melifonwu was included in Holmes’ initial draft class and was the fourth player Holmes chose as a third-round pick, following defensive lineman Alim McNeill with his first third-round pick and wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown in the fourth round.
Melifonwu began his career in Detroit as a cornerback and transitioned to safety in late 2022. He has been a flexible player in Detroit’s defense over the past few years, when fit. In four seasons, he has only participated in more than 10 games on one occasion due to injury. He has participated in a total of 37 regular season games, with 14 of those as a starter.
Melifonwu’s talent is undeniably impressive. Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighing 210 pounds, he is capable of playing both safety positions, moving into the box as a blitzer, and taking on the role of a slot corner. He participated in just four games, counting the playoffs, this last season due to two different stretches on injured reserve for ankle and finger injuries.
The Lions will have 22 players turning into unrestricted free agents when the new league year starts in March, including Melifonwu.
“would love to return,” he mentioned last week while cleaning out his locker. “Clearly, I was selected here and I belonged to the inaugural class drafted.” I’ve witnessed what we’ve created and how we’ve developed, so I would really like to return here.
Detroit has both Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch back at safety. Joseph topped the NFL in interceptions with nine and earned his first All Pro selection. Branch is among the most adaptable athletes in Detroit’s secondary and ranks as one of the top strong safeties in the league. He is expected to become an All-Pro and Pro Bowl athlete sooner rather than later.
In the nickel cornerback position, Amik Robertson has one year remaining on his contract, while Ennis Rakestraw Jr., a second-year cornerback and Detroit’s second-round selection in last year’s NFL Draft, might also be seeking a role in that spot.
Holmes and Campbell face difficult choices in the coming weeks as they determine where to allocate their resources. Their perspective on Melifonwu’s role and the configuration of their secondary in the future will need to be included in those discussions.