After moving on from Jevon Holland and Jordan Poyer this offseason, the Miami Dolphins need two starting safeties to emerge. Given that the team went bargain shopping at the position in free agency, they might also need a little luck.
The Dolphins decided not to match Holland’s three-year, $45.3M contract with the New York Giants, instead opting for cheaper alternatives at the position. They signed former New York Jets safety Ashtyn Davis (one year, $2.5M) and former Detroit Lions cornerback/safety Ifeatu Melifonwu (one year, $3.01M) for a fraction of Holland’s cost.
Although Melifonwu has faced multiple injuries throughout his career, his former head coach, Dan Campbell, still believes in his talent.
According to David Furones of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Campbell said, “The only thing that’s happened with (Melifonwu) for us, he had some injuries at times. But when we had him and he was on the field and he was able to really bang reps and bank a lot of time, I mean, he was a productive player.”
Campbell further praised Melifonwu’s versatility, stating, “I wouldn’t even say he’s a safety. He’s a defensive back. He can play, really, dime linebacker. He can play the safety position. He can play corner. He can pressure. He’s a matchup piece in coverage.”
While letting Holland go may be understandable after his disappointing 2024 season, opting to replace his production with a career backup like Davis and an injury-prone hybrid like Melifonwu appears risky for a General Manager and Head Coach on the hot seat. However, if Melifonwu can remain healthy, he could massively out-produce his contract.
