2017 NFL Draft: Raiders continue to add playmakers on D with Obi Melifonwu
Melifonwu is one of the most enigmatic prospects in the entire draft class
By
Ryan Wilson
•
1 min read
With the 56th overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, the Oakland Raiders select safety Obi Melifonwu of Connecticut.
- Draft Tracker: Round 2
Oakland Raiders
Pete Prisco's Grade: B
A lot of scouts thought he was a first-round talent. He is raw, but what a physical freak.
Instant analysis
After taking Ohio State cornerback Gareon Conley in Round 1 -- and safety Karl Joseph in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft -- the Raiders added one of the draft's physical specimans in safety Obi Melifonwu. Much like former UConn standout Byron Jones, Melifonwu started turning heads at the NFL combine with an off-the-chart performance. The Cowboys drafted Jones in the first round several years ago, and while both he and Melifonwu play safety, they are completely different players. Melifonwu, who looks like Kam Chancellor, is a tackling machine who'll need time to hone his skills as a pass defender. That said, he's a special talent and with the right coaching could be a game-changing player.
NFL comparison
Kam Chancellor: At 6-4, 220 pounds, the Chancellor comparisons are obvious, but Melifonwu is a more highly rated prospect than Chancellor, who was a 2015 fifth-round pick.
