Jets Host 30-Year-Old ‘Freak’ With ‘Elite Size’ for Veteran Tryout.
The New York Jets kicked the tires on an intriguing veteran during rookie minicamp.
Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic shared on social media that the green and white hosted several veterans for a tryout during rookie minicamp. That list included veteran defensive back Obi Melifonwu.
An AFC Pro Personnel Director described Melifonwu as a “freak” to NFL draft analyst Lance Zierlein ahead of the 2017 NFL draft. Zierlein said Melifonwu had “elite size” coming out of UConn.
He measured in at the NFL Combine at 6-foot-4 and tipped the scales at 224 pounds.
Melifonwu Would Be a Fantastic Dart Throw for the Jets
The veteran defender has bounced around the league the last few years. Melifonwu originally joined the league back in 2017 as the No. 56 overall pick in the second round.
He has played for four different NFL organizations from 2017 through 2021. Melifonwu won a Super Bowl championship with the New England Patriots as a reserve player in 2018.
During his time in the league, Melifonwu has only appeared in seven games and has made just a single start. However, over the last two years, he has competed in the USFL and the newly formed UFL.
An NFL team hasn’t been able to successfully tap into his rare athletic gifts so far, but he possesses incredible traits.
Melifonwu had the highest vertical jump (44″) and the best broad jump (141″) of any prospect at the 2017 NFL Combine. Melifonwu is now 30 years of age.
There must be something in the water.
Obi’s brother, Ifeatu, was the No. 101 overall pick in the third round of the 2021 NFL draft out of Syracuse. Over the last three years, he has appeared in 34 games and has made 11 starts for the Detroit Lions.
Ifeatu is coming off of a career-best season where he recorded eight pass deflections and two interceptions.
