PFN (Ifeatu Melifonwu, DB, Syracuse: As a pure value pick, this might be one of the draft’s best selections thus far. Ifeatu Melifonwu, as a cornerback prospect, is a borderline first-round talent. It’s unclear why he fell so far down the board. He’s the rare cornerback over 6-foot-2 who has elite athleticism and change-of-direction skills. Furthermore, he’s a quick processor, versatile, and very physical at the contact point. Melifonwu gives the Lions valuable depth at cornerback, and he can be a high-level starter. Grade: A+): https://www.profootballnetwork.com/detroit-lions-nfl-draft-picks-grades-2021/
SI (Ifeatu Melifonwu
CB | Syracuse (Grade:A+): What a steal for the Lions! Melifonwu has the size and athleticism required to match up with physical wideouts. He is best in press-man, getting his hands on receivers. Do not be surprised if he is a rookie starter for Detroit. -- LL) : https://www.si.com/nfl/2021-draft-tracker
SN (101. Lions: Ifeatu Melifonwu, CB, Syracuse: I didn’t watch much of Melifonwu but he jumped off the screen whenever I watched Syracuse. He’s big, athletic and he’s a smooth mover. He’s going to learn from Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, who did a fantastic job developing corners in New Orleans. Grade: A): https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl/news/nfl-draft-grades-2021-live-picks-results/12vn4s61xusn71cix3t8h0lv7k
FTW (101. Lions: Ifeatu Melifonwu, CB, Syracuse: I didn’t watch much of Melifonwu but he jumped off the screen whenever I watched Syracuse. He’s big, athletic and he’s a smooth mover. He’s going to learn from Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, who did a fantastic job developing corners in New Orleans. Grade: A): https://ftw.usatoday.com/lists/nfl-draft-tracker-live-grades-round-2-3
Yahoo (37) Detroit Lions (compensatory): CB Ifeatu Melifonwu, Syracuse — Another shock, Melifonwu should have come off the board before now. His length and athletic traits are top-50 worthy, even if Melifonwu needs to start turning his pass breakups into interceptions. Still, he’s a rare specimen to find at this stage of the draft and a fine addition for Detroit at this point. Grade: A.): https://sports.yahoo.com/2021-nfl-draft-round-3-instant-grades-042437129.html
CBS (101. Lions: Ifeatu Melifonwu, CB, Syracuse (Grade: A- ). Long, insanely explosive outside corner who can stay with receivers because of good agility too.): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/2021-nfl-draft-grades-analysis-for-every-third-round-pick-from-andrew-cisco-to-baron-browning/
Draftwire (101. Detroit Lions (from LAR) | Syracuse CB Ifeatu Melifonwu: Back-to-back bargains at cornerback, as the Lions themselves grab a player that could have easily been an early second-round pick on the back end of Day 2. Melifonwu’s combination of size, length and athleticism is exactly what every NFL team wants in their outside cover guys. GRADE: B+): https://draftwire.usatoday.com/lists/2021-nfl-draft-grades-day-2-analysis-2nd-round-3rd-round/
Carlos Monarrez Lions' grade for drafting CB Ifeatu Melifonwu: A big dude at a big need (Grade: B): https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2021/04/30/detroit-lions-ifeatu-melifonwu-cornerback-syracuse-draft-grade/4896492001/
Walter Football (Detroit Lions: Ifeatu Melifonwu, CB, Syracuse - B Grade. This is a much better pick than Dallas' selection of Nahshon Wright. Like Wright, Ifeatu Melifonwu is a tall cornerback, but he's actually a good player. He'll be a liability in run support, but he could end up being a solid starter across from Jeff Okudah.): https://walterfootball.com/nfldraftgrades3.php
Reuter's Day 2 Grade (Grade
C+. Detroit Lions - Analysis: The Lions selected Onwuzurike, a strong penetrator who will be difficult to block at the next level, early in Round 2. Then they picked McNeill, a severely underrated player who will challenge offensive linemen on every play, in the third round. These picks were on top of trading for Michael Brockers from the Rams this offseason. Building on the lines is great, but ignoring other positions of need could cause depth issues during the season. Melifonwu has the length and size to be a solid outside corner, but he has to be more physical to stick in the league long-term. The former Syracuse defender was selected using the third-rounder gained in the Matthew Stafford-Jared Goff trade.): https://www.nfl.com/news/2021-nfl-draft-day-2-quick-snap-grades-for-all-32-teams
Analysis:
Detroit Lions NFL draft picks 2021: Analysis for every selection: https://www.espn.com/blog/detroit-lions/post/_/id/37640/detroit-lions-nfl-draft-picks-2021-analysis-for-every-selection
ESPN Tracker (Pre-Draft Analysis: Melifonwu has the size, length and speed to develop into a solid press corner. He played receiver in high school, so he has ball skills. His pro day vertical jump was outstanding, and his length is an asset when it comes to breaking up passes. He flashes the ability to get off blocks and has stopping power in run support. -- Steve Muench. Post-Draft Analysis: Lions fans might have to learn how to pronounce his name (eh-FAH-too mel-eh-FON-woo), but he fulfills a need on the defensive side as a 6-foot-2, 205-pound cornerback with a nearly 42-inch vertical, which can help him make up for things other corners can't with that size and athleticism. The 2020 third-team All-ACC selection racked up 88 career tackles in college, in addition to 19 passes defensed and three interceptions. The Lions selected Jeff Okudah third overall in the 2020 NFL draft, but this selection adds depth to the position. -- Eric Woodyard): https://www.espn.com/nfl/draft/rounds
NFL.com Bucky Brooks (101. Ifeatu Melifonwu CB: As a long, rangy press corner, Melifonwu teases shutdown talent on the perimeter. Although the Syracuse product lacks elite instincts, he is a height-weight-speed prospect with tantalizing potential as a CB2. ): https://www.nfl.com/news/2021-nfl-draft-bucky-brooks-pick-by-pick-analysis-for-day-2
PFF (101. CB Ifeatu Melifonwu - Melifonwu has unreal physical attributes but doesn’t always play to his size. A 6-foot-2, 205-pound corner should bully the receivers he faces, but that doesn’t show up on tape very often. He lacks an instinctive feel for the position, but he has excellent burst, breaks up plays with his long wingspan and can transition in and out of his breaks as well as anyone his size.): https://www.pff.com/draft/tracker
PFN Tony Pauline (101. Detroit Lions: Ifeatu Melifonwu, CB, Syracuse (Pauline’s Ranking: #117 (CB15) | Scouting Report): Pauline: Detroit gets a terrific complementary corner in Ifeatu Melifonwu, a big-bodied corner with a high upside but unpolished game.): https://www.profootballnetwork.com/nfl-draft-tracker-2021-live-analysis-insight-from-tony-pauline/
USA Today (x-101. Lions (from Rams) – CB Ifeatu Melifonwu, Syracuse: Another big corner at 6-2, 205. He's the brother of 2017 combine star Obi Melifonwu, who didn't turn out to be much of an NFL player. Ifeatu had 19 pass break-ups and three INTs in his three years with the Orange and should get a shot to play early in a depleted Detroit secondary.): https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/draft/2021/04/30/nfl-draft-tracker-2021-second-third-round-live-picks-analysis/7390636002/
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