Dallas Cowboys 7-Round Mock Draft: Protecting strengths/fixing weakness

Dallas Cowboys Mock Draft

Round 2, Pick 42

Ifeatu Melifonwu, CB

Syracuse

Last week Melifonwu was gone before we had a chance to consider him here. This time he’s available and since both top safeties, Trevon Moehrig and Richie Grant, went in the first round (don’t let that surprise you), Melifonwu was a no-brainer pick

The Dallas Cowboys need a new starting CB to pair with last year’s second rounder, Trevon Diggs. Under Dan Quinn they’ll go back to being primarily a single high defense. This typically calls for Cover 3 that tasks each outside CB with the deep third of the field.

Length is key on this defense and Ifeatu Melifonwu has it. Standing 6-foot-2, 212lbs. Mel is ideal for the Dallas Cowboys system. He’s long but not awkward and moves fluidly for a guy his size.

https://twitter.com/PFF_College/status/1354878294051721216

He can press and retreat and he can click and close. Melifonwu plays the ball and can match-up with just about anyone. He stood out at the Senior Bowl scoring PFF’s highest coverage grade in the game. He was targeted 7 times and forced 2 incompletions. He only allowed 3 catches for 31 yards on the day.

Given his size and the position his brother plays, some have him as a possible safety in the pros. But in the Cowboys system there’s no doubt he’s a boundary corner.