Once the Miami Dolphins lost starting safety Jevon Holland in free agency, the most significant need for Miami became the safety room. Immediately following the Holland news, the Dolphins also moved to add to their safety room.
According to ESPN's Senior NFL Insider Adam Schefter, the Dolphins have agreed to a four-million-dollar one-year deal with former Detroit Lions third-round pick Ifeatu Melifonwu.
Melifonwu is a 25-year-old defensive back who switched to safety with the Lions after his rookie season in 2021. A third-rounder in the 2021 NFL Draft, Melifonwu is a younger addition to the secondary for the Dolphins.
Before the start of the 2024 season, Melifonwu suffered an ankle injury during training camp, which put him on injured reserve. He missed the first two months of the season and played just three games at the end of the year.
In 2023, Melifonwu had his best season. He had two interceptions, eight passes defended, and three sacks. Although he only started six games, he was a strong contributor.
The Dolphins and Melifonwu are a perfect fit for each other. The Dolphins take a risk-free chance on a young safety to be their starter, while Melifonwu competes for a starting job in a safety room without much competition.
Miami get a cheap look at him to see if he can be one of their starting safeties. With just one safety, Patrick McMorris left on the roster, the addition of Melifonwu was a much-needed one.
After a tumultuous career in Detroit, Melifonwu has the chance to compete for the starting job in Miami. With little competition on the roster as of the signing, Melifonwu might be in for a big 2025 season.
Related: Dolphins Strengthen Offensive Line by Adding Former Steelers Veteran
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This story was originally published March 11, 2025 at 9:54 AM.