4 players Texans should be watching closely at Reese’s Senior Bowl

1. Ifeatu Melifonwu, CB, Syracuse

Still to this day, Syracuse cornerback Ifeatu Melifonwu has remained a sleeper in this 2021 NFL Draft class. As the week moves along in Mobile, I suspect that will change. Then when the regional combines hit, Melifonwu will burst onto the scene in a large way. While he is currently slated as a mid-second-to-third rounder, Melifonwu may be on his way to hearing his name called in the first round this upcoming April.

The brother of former second round pick Obi Melifonwu, Ifeatu comes to the NFL Draft as a much more refined player than his brother was four years ago. Listed at a massive 6-foot-2.5 and 212 pounds, Melifonwu possesses extraordinary length for the cornerback position and knows how to wield it as well.

Usually cornerbacks his size are stiff and typecast a Cover-3 cornerbacks, but Melifonwu looks to break that mold, as he is plenty fluid as well. He can come up to the line of scrimmage and make a receiver work off the line of scrimmage, and shows the oily hips to hang with them break for break. Not only that, but Melifonwu will comfortably run in the 4.4s in his 40 yard dash as well.

All in all, Melifonwu is a player who should find his way to the Texans should they acquire a late first or early second round pick this upcoming April.