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PALM BEACH — There’s a rather common belief that if new Miami Dolphins safety Ifeatu Melifonwu can stay on the field in 2025, he can blossom into a key, versatile defensive piece for the team.
While his former team, the Detroit Lions, didn’t retain him this offseason, allowing him to sign with the Dolphins for up to $4 million, his former coach, Dan Campbell sure thinks he can shine in his new setting.
And it’s not a notion, which Campbell revealed at the NFL annual meeting at The Breakers on Tuesday morning, that is to be scoffed at after Melifonwu emerged as a starter the past two seasons for the Lions but was just often hurt.
“The only thing that’s happened with Iffy for us, he had some injuries at times,” Campbell said. “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.”
Melifonwu (6-foot-3, 210 pounds) presented versatility in the Lions’ defense, something Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver is expected to highlight, given that he already does it with star cornerback Jalen Ramsey.
Last year, Melifonwu suffered a preseason ankle injury and then hurt his finger while trying to work back. He finally returned to game action for the final three regular season games and the Lions’ playoff loss to the Washington Commanders.
Campbell was a big fan of how many positions he could put him in over the past four seasons in Detroit.
“This guy, he’s a defensive back. I wouldn’t even say he’s a safety. He’s a defensive back,” Campbell said. “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.
“Iffy was one of our original draft picks in ‘21. Wish him the best. You guys are going to love him down there, and he’ll be a productive player.”
It’s something Melifonwu himself said he’s excited about when he spoke with South Florida reporters last week.
“From seeing me play in Detroit, I just feel like my size and speed and coverage ability and being able to tackle and blitz can really help anyone’s defense in general,” Melifonwu said.
“So I’m just excited to see where I’ll play, how they’ll use me. Haven’t really got the opportunity to fully talk about that in depth, so I’m just excited and anywhere they decide to put me I’ll be happy. I’m just ready to go out there and compete.”
The Dolphins and Tampa Bay Buccaneers created an in-state linebacker swap of sorts, with K.J. Britt, a former Buc, signing with Miami and Anthony Walker Jr., with the Dolphins last season, headed to Tampa.
Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles spoke positively about Britt, even after his return from an ankle injury last season caused him to have a more limited role upon his return. The downhill-tackling, physical linebacker still started 11 games last season and recorded a career-high 72 tackles.
“K.J. got banged up a little bit and he was a free agent,” Bowles said. “He was a big leader for us. He played on (special) teams early on, played some first-, second-down ‘backer for us. Obviously, still got a lot to learn mentally from a few things, but K.J. can be a heck of a player for them.”
Bowles, of course, likes what he’s getting in Walker after the two separate free agents signed with the opposite teams.
“I don’t know if it was a linebacker swap or it just turned out that way, but we kind of like what we got in Walker, as well,” Bowles said.
Cornerback Artie Burns, a former first-round pick out of the University of Miami and Miami Northwestern High grad, comes back to his hometown to play for the Dolphins this season.
Burns spent the past three seasons with the Seattle Seahawks, the last of which saw him coached by Mike Macdonald, who runs a similar defensive scheme to Weaver.
“He’s one of the favorites in the locker room,” Macdonald said. “The guys love him. Treats everybody with such respect, and obviously, his impact on the community is so important. But when Artie got his opportunities, he made plays for us. Excited for his opportunity in Miami. I know he knows a lot of the guys down there, and that’ll be a great spot for him.”
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While his former team, the Detroit Lions, didn’t retain him this offseason, allowing him to sign with the Dolphins for up to $4 million, his former coach, Dan Campbell sure thinks he can shine in his new setting.
And it’s not a notion, which Campbell revealed at the NFL annual meeting at The Breakers on Tuesday morning, that is to be scoffed at after Melifonwu emerged as a starter the past two seasons for the Lions but was just often hurt.
“The only thing that’s happened with Iffy for us, he had some injuries at times,” Campbell said. “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.”
Melifonwu (6-foot-3, 210 pounds) presented versatility in the Lions’ defense, something Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver is expected to highlight, given that he already does it with star cornerback Jalen Ramsey.
Last year, Melifonwu suffered a preseason ankle injury and then hurt his finger while trying to work back. He finally returned to game action for the final three regular season games and the Lions’ playoff loss to the Washington Commanders.
Campbell was a big fan of how many positions he could put him in over the past four seasons in Detroit.
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“This guy, he’s a defensive back. I wouldn’t even say he’s a safety. He’s a defensive back,” Campbell said. “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.
“Iffy was one of our original draft picks in ‘21. Wish him the best. You guys are going to love him down there, and he’ll be a productive player.”
It’s something Melifonwu himself said he’s excited about when he spoke with South Florida reporters last week.
“From seeing me play in Detroit, I just feel like my size and speed and coverage ability and being able to tackle and blitz can really help anyone’s defense in general,” Melifonwu said.
“So I’m just excited to see where I’ll play, how they’ll use me. Haven’t really got the opportunity to fully talk about that in depth, so I’m just excited and anywhere they decide to put me I’ll be happy. I’m just ready to go out there and compete.”
Dolphins’ new LB
The Dolphins and Tampa Bay Buccaneers created an in-state linebacker swap of sorts, with K.J. Britt, a former Buc, signing with Miami and Anthony Walker Jr., with the Dolphins last season, headed to Tampa.
Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles spoke positively about Britt, even after his return from an ankle injury last season caused him to have a more limited role upon his return. The downhill-tackling, physical linebacker still started 11 games last season and recorded a career-high 72 tackles.
“K.J. got banged up a little bit and he was a free agent,” Bowles said. “He was a big leader for us. He played on (special) teams early on, played some first-, second-down ‘backer for us. Obviously, still got a lot to learn mentally from a few things, but K.J. can be a heck of a player for them.”
Bowles, of course, likes what he’s getting in Walker after the two separate free agents signed with the opposite teams.
“I don’t know if it was a linebacker swap or it just turned out that way, but we kind of like what we got in Walker, as well,” Bowles said.
Artie Burns back in Miami
Cornerback Artie Burns, a former first-round pick out of the University of Miami and Miami Northwestern High grad, comes back to his hometown to play for the Dolphins this season.
Burns spent the past three seasons with the Seattle Seahawks, the last of which saw him coached by Mike Macdonald, who runs a similar defensive scheme to Weaver.
“He’s one of the favorites in the locker room,” Macdonald said. “The guys love him. Treats everybody with such respect, and obviously, his impact on the community is so important. But when Artie got his opportunities, he made plays for us. Excited for his opportunity in Miami. I know he knows a lot of the guys down there, and that’ll be a great spot for him.”
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