Ifeatu Melifonwu
Cornerback
Career Earnings: $7,524,710
Career APY: $1,504,942
Total Guarantees: $3,290,616
Largest Cash Payment: $2,970,588 (2025)
Largest Cap Number: $2,970,588 (2025)
- Date of Birth: May 2, 1999
- Height: 6'3"
- Weight: 213
- College: Syracuse
- Entry: 2021 Draft, Round 3, #101 overall (Lions)
Contract History
| Team | Contract Type | Status | Year Signed | Yrs | Total | APY | Guarantees | Amount Earned | % Earned | Effective APY |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lions | Drafted | Expired | 2021 | 4 | $4,690,233 | $1,172,558 | $840,616 | $4,554,122 | 97.1% | $1,138,531 |
| Dolphins | UFA | Expired | 2025 | 1 | $3,000,000 | $3,000,000 | $2,450,000 | $2,970,588 | 99.0% | $2,970,588 |
Earnings By Team
| Team | Yrs | Salary | APY | Paid on Cap | % Paid on Cap | Paid as Dead Money | % Paid as Dead Money |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lions | 4 | $4,554,122 | $1,138,531 | $4,554,122 | 0.0% | $0 | 0.0% |
| Dolphins | 1 | $2,970,588 | $2,970,588 | $2,970,588 | 0.0% | $0 | 0.0% |
Season History
| Year | Team | Base Salary | Prorated Bonus | Per Game Roster Bonus | Workout Bonus | Guaranteed Salary | Cap Number | Cap % | Cash Paid | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Lions | $660,000 | $210,154 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $734,043 | 0.4% | $1,364,505 | ||
| 2022 | Lions | $852,539 | $210,154 | $0 | $25,000 | $0 | $1,087,693 | 0.5% | $877,539 | ||
| 2023 | Lions | $1,070,078 | $210,154 | $0 | $25,000 | $0 | $1,305,232 | 0.6% | $1,095,078 | ||
| 2024 | Lions | $1,192,000 | $210,154 | $0 | $25,000 | $0 | $1,427,154 | 0.6% | $1,217,000 | ||
| 2025 | Dolphins | $1,170,000 | $1,280,000 | $500,000 | $50,000 | $1,170,000 | $2,970,588 | 1.0% | $2,970,588 | ||
| Total | $4,944,617 | $2,120,616 | $500,000 | $125,000 | $1,170,000 | $7,524,710 | $7,524,710 | ||||
Statistics
| Year | Games Played | Games Inactive | Snaps | Tackles | Negative Plays | Interceptions | Fumbles | TD | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Defense | Special | Solo | Assist | Sacks | Yards | TFL | QB Hits | Pass Def. | INT | Yards | Forced | Rec. | Yards | ||||
| 2021 | 7 | 0 | 21.2% | 7.7% | 11 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | 9 | 7 | 8.6% | 17.4% | 9 | 4 | 0.5 | 1.5 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | 17 | 0 | 36.4% | 36.7% | 23 | 8 | 3 | 30 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024 | 3 | 3 | 12.5% | 1.3% | 8 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2025 | 16 | 1 | 51.1% | 24.0% | 31 | 21 | 1 | 13 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |