Veteran safety Ifeatu Melifonwu has been with the Detroit Lions throughout the Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell era.
Melifonwu was part of Holmes’ inaugural draft class, chosen as the fourth pick in the third round, following defensive lineman Alim McNeill (Holmes’ first third-round pick) and wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (in the fourth round).
Initially a cornerback, Melifonwu transitioned to safety late in 2022. He has proven to be a versatile asset to Detroit’s defense, when healthy, though injuries have limited his availability. Over four seasons, he has only played more than 10 games once and has appeared in 37 regular-season games with 14 starts.
Melifonwu’s perspective
Melifonwu’s talent is unquestionable. Standing 6-foot-3 and weighing 210 pounds, he can play both safety positions, rush the passer as a blitzer, and even cover the slot. However, he played just four games last season, including playoffs, due to two separate stints on injured reserve for ankle and finger injuries.
With 22 players set to become unrestricted free agents when the new league year begins in March, Melifonwu is among them.
“I would like to be back,” he shared last week during the locker room cleanout. “Obviously, I got drafted here and I was the first class drafted here. I’ve seen what we’ve built and how we’ve grown so I would love to be back here.”
Detroit’s safety tandem will feature Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch next season. Joseph led the NFL with nine interceptions and earned his first All-Pro selection. Branch is one of the league’s top strong safeties and is expected to be an All-Pro and Pro Bowl contender in the near future.
Holmes on the 2024 season
At nickel cornerback, Amik Robertson has one year remaining on his contract, and second-year cornerback Ennis Rakestraw Jr., Detroit’s second-round pick from the previous draft, could also compete for a role.
Holmes and Campbell face some tough decisions in the coming weeks as they assess how best to allocate resources. Melifonwu’s role and how the secondary shapes up moving forward will be key factors in these discussions.
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Commanders Fans make fun of Lions with Chant After NFC Wild-Card Victory
Washington Commanders fans are riding high after their team’s dominant performance in Sunday night’s wild-card round game, securing a 31-23 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This marks Washington’s first playoff win since 2005, earning them a spot in the divisional round against the top-seeded Detroit Lions.
Despite the challenging task ahead, Commanders fans aren’t backing down. A viral TikTok video captured the energy, with fans chanting, “We want Detroit!” as they left Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. The Commanders will face the Lions next Saturday at Ford Field in Detroit, with kickoff scheduled for 8 p.m.
Much like the Lions last season, the Commanders have become this year’s playoff underdogs after snapping a long winless streak in postseason play. But, unlike typical wild-card teams, the 13-5 Commanders aren’t to be underestimated. With 12 wins in a tough NFC, Washington proved their regular-season success was no fluke, especially with their gritty win over Tampa Bay.
While Commanders fans showed up in force in Tampa, the price of tickets for the divisional game against the Lions is nearly four times higher, making a full-scale takeover unlikely. However, it’s clear that Washington’s loyal fanbase is sending a strong message ahead of next week’s primetime matchup.
