With The First Pick
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S Obi Melifonwu to Oakland Raiders in Round 1

By Carl Cockerham

Mar 6, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Connecticut Huskies defensive back Obi Melifonwu runs the 40 yard dash during the 2017 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 6, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Connecticut Huskies defensive back Obi Melifonwu runs the 40 yard dash during the 2017 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /
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Obi Melifonwu started out as a little-known prospect out of UConn. Then after a great Senior Bowl Week he ran the rest of the way into the first round in the 2017 NFL Scouting Combine.

There must be something in the water at UConn that they give to the defensive backs. DB Byron Jones went to the 2015 NFL Scouting Combine at 6’1″, 200 pounds and showed out athletically. He didn’t run the 40 but had a 44.5-inch vertical leap and a 6.78 3-cone drill time.

And at 12 feet, three inches, he set a new record for broad jump to cap an excellent workout. Jones ran a 4.36 40 at his Pro Day and get picked in the first round of the 2015 NFL draft. Here in 2017, we have another DB coming out of UConn with crazy athleticism.

Obi Melifonwu is the guy this year, starting out as a little known prospect at first. He would start letting the NFL world know who he is during Senior Bowl Week. Then at the 2017 NFL Scouting Combine, I believe he ran and jumped his way into the first round of the draft.

Melifonwu started with impressive measurements, going in at 6’4″, 224 pounds. His show of athleticism began with the second-longest broad jump in combine history at 11 feet, nine inches. Then he had a 44-inch vertical leap Monday to go with 4.4 40-yard-dash.

He also looked good in position drills, moving like a CB, flipping his hips when asked to. The Oakland Raiders need this kid to beat the Chiefs, who hurt them with TE Travis Kelce. Melifonwu wasn’t rated highly at first but now, the Raiders need to get him in the first round.

Melifonwu can cover more that just TEs, he can play single high, cover the slot and big WRs. And from the box, he will come up and hit you in the running game. He and 2016 first-round pick Karl Joseph can be interchangeable at S, depending on the matchup.

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