‘On the upward ascension.’ In Miami, two safeties seek opportunity to become full-time starters
The 2024 Miami Dolphins safety experiment was an utter disaster.
In an attempt to sure up the back end, the Dolphins paired former all-pro Jordan Poyer with a young talent in Jevon Holland. The plan backfired: Poyer looked aged while Holland’s battles with injuries limited his ability. Even worse, the duo recorded zero interceptions and just one turnover between them — a Holland forced fumble in Week 1.
The Dolphins have seemingly opted to go in a drastically different direction in 2025. With Holland now a New York Giant and Poyer currently still a free agent, the Dolphins signed two young safeties in Ifeatu Melifonwu and Ashtyn Davis. While both have started less than half of their career games, the two safeties came to Miami with intentions of changing that.
“I’ve been predominantly a teams a guy, a rotational defensive piece the last couple years, but I think that I’ve seen what a starter in this league looks like and I think that I fit that description,” Davis, 28, said March 25, later adding “that was a huge thing for me, just looking for somewhere with an opportunity to prove that to myself and prove that to an organization.”
“It’s very important,” Melifonwu, 25, said about the opportunity to potentially become a starter. “I feel like through the four years I’ve proved what I can do and people have seen it.”
Their signings fit a philosophy that coach Mike McDaniel recently mentioned during the NFL Annual Meeting.
“When I talk about the vision that I have for our team in 2025, that includes players that are on the upward ascension of development, players that I think that we can further develop and that can contribute to a culture of a team-first mentality that wins down the stretch of the season,” McDaniel said Monday.
Melifonwu was seemingly on his way to becoming a full-time starter. He started the final eight games of the Detroit Lions’ regular season and postseason in 2023 and came into 2024 excited to grow. Unfortunately, a foot injury limited him to just four total games in 2024 — all of which he started. While Melifonwu wouldn’t reveal much about his conversations with coaches, he seemed to hint at the Dolphins brass’ excitement that he chose Miami.
“The conversations that I’ve had are that it would be a great fit for me there and they’re excited to work with me,” said Melifonwu who has posted 4.5 sacks and two interceptions across his four-year career. “So we’ll see what happens. I’m excited to just get the opportunity to compete and that’s all I’m really looking forward to.”
Although Melifonwu does come with injury concerns, Lions coach Dan Campbell emphasized the former Syracuse standout’s versatility.
“He’s a defensive back,” Campbell said Tuesday. “I wouldn’t say he’s a safety. He’s a defensive back. He can play dime linebacker. He can play [the] safety position, play corner, he can pressure. He’s a matchup piece in coverage.”
Added Campbell: “You guys are going to love him down there. He’ll be a productive player.”
Similarly, Davis has been quite the productive player despite limited reps. Outside of the 2021 season when he started 10 of a potential 13 games, the five-year veteran has a dozen starts. Still, Davis has snagged eight interceptions throughout his career.
“I had an amazing college coach [at Cal-Berkeley] that emphasized getting the football and made that a priority,” Davis said. “So I think every time I’m on the field that’s what I’m looking to do is get the football — whether it’s a run or pass play, I’m just trying to get that football.”
In addition to the eight interceptions, Davis has logged 175 career tackles, 15 pass deflections and three forced fumbles. His nose for the ball makes hims somewhat of a coaches dream.
“It is funny, all Ashtyn does is find the ball,” then-Jets coach Robert Saleh told team reporter John Pullano late in the 2023 season. “I am a big fan of his. He has done nothing but work. He was a valuable and very underrated piece of this defense. The way he goes about his business and the way he works, that play embodies everything that he represents for this defense.”
Although the Dolphins have three other safeties on the roster in Elijah Campbell, Patrick McMorris and Jordan Colbert, it is expected that Davis and Melifonwu will ultimately compete for the two starting spots. Outside of Campbell, who has three starts, the recent free agent signees are the only two players with the most experience. And while the final depth chart is certainly a ways away, both players’ excitement is already palpable.
“I’m just excited to see where I’ll play, how they’ll use me,” Melifonwu said. “Haven’t really got the opportunity to fully talk about that in depth, so I’m just excited and anywhere they decide to put me I’ll be happy at. Like I said, I’m just ready to go out there and compete.”
Added Davis: “As far as the scheme goes, I think it’s a lot of the similar stuff that I’ve done before and learned in New York and even dating back to college days. So I think it’ll be a good fit.”
