Former Dolphins DB Signs with Bucs

Melifonwu’s time as a Dolphin is officially over after just one season, but he certainly made the most of his cup of coffee with the team. Loads of injuries to Miami’s secondary in 2025 opened up the opportunity for him to register career-highs in defensive snaps as well as starts (eight) a season ago. Across his eight starts (and 16 games played), he logged 53 total tackles, 31 solo tackles and 22 assisted tackles.

He’ll now hope to suit up for a Buccaneers defense that wasn’t quite as bad as the Dolphins’ in 2025 but still a pretty mixed bag. Tampa Bay ranked in the bottom half of the league in points allowed and total yards of offense allowed but conversely excelled at forcing turnovers, ending the campaign with 23 takeaways (only six teams in the NFL had more), including 13 interceptions and 10 fumbles.

Melifonwu is someone who’s, of course, accustomed to forcing turnovers himself and should fit like a glove in that sense. He has three career picks along with two recovered fumbles to his name at the NFL level, and he even had an interception in his lone season as a Dolphin.

Dolphins and Buccaneers fans alike should ultimately expect Melifonwu to crack Tampa’s final roster, and here’s hoping he can mirror his success in Miami with his new team. If he turns out to be a great success with the Buccaneers and carves out a significant role in their secondary, it won’t negatively affect the Dolphins in any way — the two teams won’t square off at all this season.