Raising Zona
FanSided

Prospects Arizona Cardinals should consider but won’t

By Sion Fawkes

CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - SEPTEMBER 12: Ifeatu Melifonwu #2 of the Syracuse Orange breaks up a pass intended for Dyami Brown #2 of the North Carolina Tar Heels during the first quarter of their game at Kenan Stadium on September 12, 2020 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - SEPTEMBER 12: Ifeatu Melifonwu #2 of the Syracuse Orange breaks up a pass intended for Dyami Brown #2 of the North Carolina Tar Heels during the first quarter of their game at Kenan Stadium on September 12, 2020 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 4
Next
MOBILE, AL – JANUARY 30: Defensive Back Ifeatu Melifonwu#8 from Syracuse of the American Team during the 2021 Resse’s Senior Bowl at Hancock Whitney Stadium on the campus of the University of South Alabama on January 30, 2021 in Mobile, Alabama. The National Team defeated the American Team 27-24. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images)
MOBILE, AL – JANUARY 30: Defensive Back Ifeatu Melifonwu#8 from Syracuse of the American Team during the 2021 Resse’s Senior Bowl at Hancock Whitney Stadium on the campus of the University of South Alabama on January 30, 2021 in Mobile, Alabama. The National Team defeated the American Team 27-24. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images) /

Ifeatu Melifonwu, CB/Syracuse

Melifonwu has Patrick Peterson‘s size, and while most don’t consider him to be a first-round pick (11th ranked corner in Athlon Sports Draft Magazine), he’s a physical, all-purpose corner the Cardinals could take at the tail end of the first round. Obviously, he’s only to be considered if Keim trades down.

The younger brother of Obi Melifonwu racked up 55 tackles, including 3 for a loss and a sack during the 2020 season. He also broke up 9 passes and recorded an interception. Again, he’s an all-purpose player, and he has the statistics to back it up. Plus, if the Cardinals struggle with injuries at safety, they can always reposition him because of his ideal size.

Despite Melifonwu’s potential and 2020 production, Steve Keim has given every indication that he wants to win in 2021, and Melifonwu isn’t the plug-and-play type of player. He’ll need at least a year as a nickel or a dime back before he’s legitimately ready to move into a CB1 or CB2 role. His lack of production in 2018 and 2019 also indicates this.

However, he has the size and physicality to take on larger receivers, along with the speed to take on smaller, faster receivers. And even when he gets beat deep, he has the length to recover and make plays on the ball.

Home/Cardinals Draft