Chicago Bears 2021 NFL Draft: Day 2 cornerback targets
By Ryan Heckman
Chicago Bears Day 2 Cornerback Targets: Ifeatu Melifonwu, Syracuse
Syracuse has one of the better all-around secondaries in college football, with a pair of potential Day 2 cornerbacks. The first is Ifeatu Melifonwu, a towering defensive back who looks the part.
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At 6-foot-3, Melifonwu has tremendous size. He is a physical tackler who is unafraid to shut a play down by himself. He’s a willing run defender and has even found himself in the back field a handful of times.
The way Melifonwu plays the game, he could easily be switched to safety if need be. As a pro, he would actually project as a very good strong safety. But, he still possesses the ability to be an outside corner. His length and build give him the ability to even match up on tight ends with success, too.
In coverage on the outside, Melifonwu does play off his receiver at times and gives them too much room. That’s something which should be corrected quickly in the NFL. The thing is, he’s physical enough where playing up on his receiver shouldn’t be a problem. He likes contact.
In 2020, Melifonwu had his best overall season yet, totaling 54 tackles, 3.0 for a loss, 1.0 sack, an interception and six passes defensed.
In the second round, the Bears should feel fortunate to land him. If he somehow gets into the third round, Melifonwu would be an absolute steal. The physical traits are there, and he has the potential to be a true Swiss Army Knife in the NFL.