Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sign 27-Year-Old Defensive Back

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed safety Ifeatu Melifonwu from the practice squad to the 53-man roster Tuesday, converting a three-game elevation into a full active-roster spot.

The move comes after Melifonwu played in all three of Tampa Bay’s games this season as a standard practice squad elevation. He has worked almost exclusively on special teams, taking 54 percent of the unit’s snaps.

NFL rules allow only three standard elevations for a practice-squad player without the team claiming him off waivers or signing him to the 53. The Buccaneers used the last of those elevations last weekend, leaving a roster addition as the only way to keep him available.

Melifonwu, 27, was a third-round pick by the Detroit Lions in 2021, selected 101st overall out of Syracuse. He spent four seasons in Detroit before signing a one-year deal with the Miami Dolphins in 2025.

Across 56 career games and 22 starts with Detroit, Miami and Tampa Bay, he has recorded 125 tackles, 5.5 sacks, 14 pass breakups, three interceptions, two fumble recoveries and one forced fumble.

His most productive year came in 2025 with Miami. He played all 16 games, started eight and finished with a career-high 53 tackles, one sack and one interception.

In 2023 with Detroit he appeared in all 17 games, started six and posted 33 tackles, three sacks, eight pass deflections and two interceptions. He also added two sacks in three playoff games that season.

The 6-foot-3, 210-pound defender has lined up at free safety, strong safety, in the box and in the slot. That versatility has been a recurring theme in Todd Bowles’ defense.

Tampa Bay entered the season thin at safety behind Antoine Winfield Jr. and Tykee Smith. Veteran Miles Killebrew has been the primary reserve. Melifonwu’s promotion adds a sixth-year player who already knows the special teams schemes.

He first signed with the Buccaneers in late July after Miami let him become a free agent. Tampa Bay released him in final cuts Aug. 30, then immediately signed him to the practice squad.

Through the first three weeks he has not recorded a defensive statistic. His value has been on coverage units, kickoff and punt teams.

The Buccaneers are 2-1 and host the next opponent with a secondary that has stayed relatively healthy but remains short on proven depth. Adding Melifonwu now avoids another week of last-minute paperwork.

Career snap data show he has logged more than 1,800 total snaps, the majority on defense but a growing share on special teams in recent seasons. In 2025 with Miami he played 104 special-teams snaps.

Syracuse listed him as a two-year starter. He finished his college career with 88 tackles, 22 pass breakups and three interceptions, earning second-team All-ACC honors in 2020.

The promotion does not immediately change the starting lineup. It does give coaches a veteran they can use without counting an elevation if injuries or game-plan needs arise later in the year.

Tampa Bay’s roster now sits at the 53-man limit. Any further additions would require a corresponding move.

Melifonwu wears No. 5. He is the younger brother of former NFL safety Obi Melifonwu.