ALLEN PARK -- Ifeatu Melifonwu didn’t play much during his rookie season due to a quad injury. Now, the second-year cornerback is dipping his toes into safety work for the Detroit Lions to open Organized Team Activities.
Melifonwu, a third-round pick out of Syracuse in 2021, was limited to seven games in Year 1. He was thrust into the starting lineup in Game 2 after Jeff Okudah’s season-ending Achilles injury, then hurt his quad covering a deep shot to receiver Davante Adams in Green Bay.
He returned for a limited role by early December, then played 183 defensive snaps across the final three weeks. Melifonwu impressed to close Year 1 while flashing his length and matchup ability. It’s also worth noting he played nickelback and in some dime looks, so this isn’t an other-worldly switch. Melifonwu was used as a matchup piece against Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts down the stretch, with Aaron Glenn singing his praises. After the game in Atlanta, the defensive coordinator said Melifonwu is a “matchup guy for us” that they expect “to be one of our main guys.”
“The plan, AG (Glenn) and the coaches just asked me to try it. I’m a football player, so they kinda want to put me in different spots (and) see what works,” Melifonwu said. “If you got versatility and know the other position just in case anything happens.
“I like it. It’s a different perspective. Definitely a different perspective. You see the whole field instead of just one side of the formation. I’m still getting used to it. I like corner as well. It’s honestly two different things. I’m getting used to it.”
Detroit’s defense is switching to a more attacking scheme for this upcoming season. Its defense is expected to deploy more four-person fronts, with a different look at off-ball linebacker. And the Lions also hope cornerbacks Jeff Okudah and Jerry Jacobs are back in the fold with Amani Oruwariye, A.J. Parker and former first-round pick Mike Hughes, among others. While Melifonwu offers unique ability as a matchup piece, it makes sense to see how he handles another position to ensure there’s enough playing time to go around for this young defense.
Tracy Walker is back on a three-year deal. The Lions signed safety DeShon Elliott, then drafted Kerby Joseph at the back of Round 3. C.J. Moore, JuJu Hughes and Brady Breeze are also back. Will Harris is bouncing around, too, seeing his fair share of work at cornerback during Thursday’s OTA session.
Melifonwu said the Lions and other teams asked him about playing safety in the NFL during his draft interviews. And while he says this is something that’s been in the back of his head as a possibility ever since. Detroit’s staff didn’t talk to him about it again until he arrived for OTAs in the last week or so.
“It’s (a) huge value. Because now I kinda now what everyone is doing. At corner, you might know what the safety to your side is doing, and maybe the backer to your side or the d-end,” Melifonwu said. “But at safety, you literally know what everyone is doing. Like I get to see the full field.
“Tracy is a leader back there. I been talking to Tracy, C.J. Moore and DeShon. Everyone, we kinda just always talk about it. The call gets in the huddle, and we talk to each other. I feel like we’re all just helping each other.”
The young defensive back is working on getting used to the new position as things stand. Melifonwu said the biggest hurdle is the mental aspect, seeing things from different angles and getting accustomed to knowing where everyone is supposed to be.
It remains to be seen if this is something that sticks for Melifonwu come the regular season. But, there are questions at safety, with a possible logjam at the top of the cornerback rotation.
“I do take pride in that the coaches can see me and use me as a matchup and put me where they need me to be for each week,” Melifonwu said. “I do take pride in that.”
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