2021 NFL Draft cornerback rankings: Patrick Surtain II leads strong group

7. Ifeatu Melifonwu, Syracuse
6-foot-2, 205 pounds
2021 NFL Draft grade: Third round

2020 was a breakout year for Syracuse cornerback Ifeatu Melifonwu who was named to the 2020 All-ACC team. This past season he finished the year with 55 tackles and finished 5th in the ACC in pass breakups with nine. In 2019 he led the team in pass breakups with eight but missed two games due to injury. He also missed several games in 2018 due to injury.

The first positive with Melifonwu is his size, and he could be the ideal match for a team that plays cover-two due to this. Unlike some corners in this draft who have good size, he moves very well for a player with his length. He was able to put up some strong testing numbers including a 41.5-inch vertical jump. One other reason he has the potential to be a starting corner in the NFL is how physically he plays. He has no trouble coming up and jamming a receiver or supporting the run.

While Melifonwu has the physical traits to play at the next level he needs to improve his mental game. He shows average awareness in coverage and at times loses track of the man he is supposed to be covering in zone coverage. He tends to give a big cushion when lined up in man coverage as well. It is also not working in his favor that he has missed multiple games due to injury in two of his three years at Syracuse.