By Zicpraiz 
Ifeatu Melifonwu, a former third-round pick of the Detroit Lions, is on the move for the third consecutive offseason. The 25-year-old safety played in three regular-season games in 2024 and finished with 10 tackles, including 1.0 sacks.
Melifonwu’s 2024 season was marked by injuries, as he didn’t make his regular-season debut until Week 16 against the Bears due to ankle and hand injuries.
Despite the limited playing time, Melifonwu expressed his desire to re-sign with the Lions, but it seems he’s now exploring other options.
As a former third-round pick, Melifonwu has shown promise as a physical safety with ball-hawking skills. He played college football at Syracuse and was drafted by the Lions in 2021.
In his rookie season, Melifonwu played in 12 games, starting 5, and recorded 33 tackles and 2 passes defensed.