Report: Obi Melifonwu To Play These Positions For Patriots

The New England Patriots signed Obi Melifonwu to add some versatility to their game. Head coach Bill Belichick built a strong squad, and the addition of Melifonwu sure comes as a refreshment.

Obi Melifonwu signed a two-year contract with the New England Patriots. Head coach Belichick talked to media members, and used the opportunity to use the former second round pick in several positions.

“Yeah, we’ll see. That’s a good question. We’ll see. We’ve really only had him for a couple of days so we’ll see how it goes. He has good size. He’s smart. He learns quickly. He’s athletic. We’ll see what he can do. I don’t know; possibly,” Belichick said.

The safety will be considered a developmental piece at the position behind Devin McCourty and Patrick Chung. The Patriots could also use his athleticism at corner. Melifonwu brought a huge promise with him, but we would have to adjust the expectations to his injury history.

Melifonwu suffered several injuries during his professional career. He played five games in his rookie season in 2017 and was able to total six tackles. Melifonwu was placed on injured reserve twice during the season and was slowed to start the 2018 season. Oakland released him last month.

In his last season at UConn, Melifonwu had great numbers with 118 tackles and four interceptions. He played in all 13 games in 2016. Before the NFL Draft, he ran a 4.4 40-yard dash and logged 7.07 seconds in the 3-cone drill.

Melifonwu will sport No. 22 with the New England Patriots. Media members spotted him in Thursday’s practice.

“It feels like a blessing, honestly. I’m just glad to be back home with my friends and family. It’s a team that I’ve grown up watching. They’re such a great organization. I’m just so proud to be a part of it,” Melifonwu said after signing his deal with the Pats.