The Detroit Lions confront a tough choice about the future of safety Ifeatu Melifonwu.
Selected in the third round of the 2021 draft, Melifonwu has shown promising potential over his four seasons with the team. Specifically, he excelled during the last part of 2023, and his capacity to blitz added an extra layer to the defense.
The seasoned defender spent time on injured reserve, then broke a finger while readjusting to practice. This led to another period on injured reserve, and Melifonwu finally played his first game of the season in Week 16 at Chicago.
Melifonwu adds a distinctive aspect to the defense thanks to his skill in blitzing and positioning himself in different spots within the unit. He excels in stopping the run and manages well in coverage, yet hasn’t recorded impressive statistics because of limited availability.
Certain injury problems can be attributed to random occurrences. Assessing what a possible offer might entail for him is difficult, as it hinges on how the Lions perceive his prospects.
Due to the significant concern over injuries, a one-year contract might be the most suitable option for the team. A modest base salary with incentives tied to play-time and performance appears to be the best choice, as Melifonwu might earn a raise through his performance.
Melifonwu can become a significant contributor to Detroit’s defense, and he has already demonstrated this. Nonetheless, his unavailability has been a concern for his growth, and since the Lions already have one of the top safety pairs in the league, there are other positions of need where the team could spend larger contracts.
Contract forecast: One year, $4.5 million.
Nevertheless, a persistent and unfortunate aspect of his career has been his unavailability caused by injuries.
In his initial four years, Melifonwu has completed a full season only once, which was the previous season. As a newcomer in 2021, the Syracuse alum experienced a severe hamstring injury in only his second NFL game and ended up spending an extended time on injured reserve.
The next year, he participated in 10 matches. He participated in the entire 2023 season, but a broken hand sustained during practice restricted his defensive snaps at the beginning of the season. The injury didn’t keep him out entirely, but it postponed his ultimate ascent to the top of the depth chart.
Once he overcame the injury challenges, Melifonwu ignited the defense last season. He concluded with two interceptions, one of which was the division-clinching pick against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 16.
As 2024 approached, Melifonwu was anticipated to be a reliable component of Detroit’s secondary. Nevertheless, he sustained an ankle injury towards the end of training camp and was put on injured reserve in Week 4 after being sidelined for the initial three games.