Pegged as a Day 2 pick in the draft, cornerback Ifeatu Melifonwu nearly fell into Day 3. The Lions snatched him 101st overall before that could happen.
"He was standing out. I wouldn’t say like a sore thumb, but he was standing out significantly," said Lions GM Brad Holmes. "So from a value standpoint at a premium position, let's just trust our board and you really feel good about the value you get."
Melifonwu has rare size and strength for a corner, with prototypical speed. NFL.com draft analyst Lance Zierlein compares the Syracuse product to longtime NFL starter Trumaine Johnson.
And here's what Louis Riddick, former director of pro personnel for both the Eagles and Redskins, said about Melifonwu on ESPN in the moments after the Lions made the pick.
"No reason this young man shouldn’t be a superstar. 6’2, 205 lbs., 42-inch vertical. You watch him play at the line of scrimmage, he may be the best press corner in this draft as far as being patient at the line, jamming with the proper hands. He’s got speed to run with people down the field, he can finish on the football with interceptions. When he wants to -- and I hate to say that about DB’s -- but when he wants to, he can tackle.
"He’s got all the skill in the world. All the skill in the world. There’s no excuse for him not to be a tremendous pro."
That gives the Lions three young corners with considerable upside. Melifonwu will join 2020 third overall pick Jeff Okudah and 2019 fourth-rounder Amani Oruwariye in Detroit, all three of whom happen to have Nigerian roots.
"Coming from similar backgrounds and the same culture, even though I haven’t met them I feel like I have a deep-rooted connection with those two," Melifonwu said.
On the field, they could be quite the trio. Melifonwu tallied at least six passes defended in each of his three seasons at Syracuse, and last season he racked up 54 tackles. He said his size and athleticism allow him to "make up for things other corners can’t."
"It's always just a plus, having technique and having athletic ability to go along with it," he said.
Holmes said Melifonwu "has the versatility to do everything" in the secondary: "To play outside, to play back deep and even to play inside in a matchup with big guys."
Melifonwu was the third defensive player the Lions drafted on Saturday, a much-needed influx of talent for the NFL's worst defense in 2020.