With the 2020 NFL Combine underway in Indianapolis, it’s good to remember that the measurements and drills are only a fraction of the total evaluation for a player. Too often, players are over-drafted due to their testing numbers, and the Raiders themselves have a long history of draft busts who performed well in Indianapolis at the Combine.
One of their bigger misses in recent drafts has been safety Obi Melifonwu, who tested as one of the best athletes ever. Despite only average college tape and production, he was selected in the second round after running a 4.40 40-yard dash at 224 pounds.
In a recent piece by Pro Football Focus, Melifonwu was named to the “All-Combine” team, despite a lackluster career in the NFL.
Melifonwu was supposed to be Isaiah Simmons before Isaiah Simmons. At 6-foot-4, 224 pounds with jaw-dropping athleticism, Melifonwu bridged the gap between corner, safety and linebacker. In his final season at UConn, Melifonwu earned an 86.9 run defense grade and 80.1 coverage grade. In the NFL, he only played 34 snaps for the Oakland Raiders after being drafted in the second round with another 20 for the New England Patriots.
Meifonwu never looked entirely comfortable at safety, and when he played cornerback, he was beaten several times due to a general lack of quickness and instincts. While he is still bouncing around in the NFL, it’s unlikely he will ever live up to his draft status or his NFL Combine performance.
Over the next week, it’s important to remember that these drills and tests are only a part of the overall equation.
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