Dallas Cowboys would be smart to target DB Ifeatu Melifonwu
Defensive back is one position of need that the Dallas Cowboys will be forced to address this offseason. Free agency and the draft will provide the Cowboys opportunities to bring in talent for defensive coordinator Dan Quinn to work with. Virginia Tech's Caleb Farley, Alabama's Patrick Surtain II, and South Carolina's Jaycee Horn are three […]
Defensive back is one position of need that the Dallas Cowboys will be forced to address this offseason. Free agency and the draft will provide the Cowboys opportunities to bring in talent for defensive coordinator Dan Quinn to work with.
Virginia Tech's Caleb Farley, Alabama's Patrick Surtain II, and South Carolina's Jaycee Horn are three prospects that have been heavily linked to the Cowboys early on in the draft process. Both Farley and Surtain are expected to be top-10 draft selections come April, while Horn is a likely first-round draft pick in his own right.
Those appear to be the top three prospects at the cornerback position from many that cover the NFL Draft. That said, the Cowboys won't be limited to that trio if they want to add a corner early in the draft.
Syracuse's Ifeatu Melifonwu is a rising prospect dripping with upside, and the Cowboys should be interested.
Ifeatu Melifonwu out of Syracuse is a prospect that is garnering top-50 consideration due to his lengthy frame and impressive speed. The younger brother of San Francisco 49ers defensive Obi Melifonwu developed from a lowly-rated three-star high school recruit into a potential first- or second-round NFL Draft pick.
While at Syracuse, Melifonwu emerged as a star defensive back in the ACC. Matching against talented receivers such as North Carolina's Dyami Brown and Clemson's loaded unit of pass catchers, the Boston native flashed in coverage and in run support.
He uses his impressive 80-inch wingspan to his advantage against his opposition. The talented defensive back has the toughness and physicality needed to fight off blocks before bringing the ball carrier down.
Melifonwu earned all-conference honors during his time with the Orange, and he was invited to the 2021 Reese's Senior Bowl for an opportunity to impress in front of NFL scouts and evaluators.
The Athletic's Dane Brugler pointed out Melifonwu as a prospect to watch while in Mobile:
The Younger brother of Obi, Melifonwu came in at No. 57 overall on my top 100 draft board as he continues to rise due to his freaky skills. At 6-3 and 215 pounds, he has the size and speed to match up with different types of receivers and shut them down. His draft tag is full of helium.
Melifonwu has taken full advantage, turning heads during Senior Bowl practices against playmaking wide receivers.
With the needs at defensive back, the Dallas Cowboys would be awfully smart to target Melifonwu in the NFL Draft. The Cowboys currently hold the 10th overall pick and the 44th overall pick, two spots where the team could pick the Syracuse product.
Melifonwu possesses elite size and speed to go along with toughness, physicality, and football smarts. He has the potential to thrive in Dan Quinn's defense with the Dallas Cowboys.
Ifeatu Melifonwu interview
The Syracuse defensive back sat down with the Talkin' The Star crew to discuss the pre-draft process, which wide receiver he was most excited to match up against, and what team he grew up cheering for.
You can listen to the insightful and interesting episode on the Blogging The Boys podcast network.
Make sure to follow the hosts on Twitter at colelpatterson, ConnorNFLDraft, and DaltonBMiller. You can follow Ifeatu on Twitter at Ifeatu_Mel.
Featured image via Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
