Six-year NFL veteran Rashaan Melvin signed a one-year, $3.5 million contract with the Detroit Lions. The exact guarantees in the deal are unkown but the deal keeps him with the team until 2020. Melvin, a Northern Illinois product, spent the 2018 season as a member of the Oakland Raiders.
Lions reached agreement with free agent CB Rashaan Melvin on a one-year deal, $3.5 million deal, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 23, 2019
Rashaan Melvin, Detroit Lions Agree to Deal
Melvin spent the 2018 season on a one-year deal with the Oakland Raiders. Playing in 14 games, the former undrafted free agent recorded 56 tackles, one interception, and nine passes defended. His overall numbers were average, and Pro Football Focus backs that up. Per the advanced analytics website, Melvin finished 2018 as the 93rd-ranked cornerback in football.
Melvin first entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent back in the 2013 NFL season. Signing on with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Melvin earned a spot on the 2013 Opening Day roster. However, the rookie suffered a hamstring injury late in the preseason and never made it on the field. Despite early hope that he could return, Tampa Bay placed him on the injured reserve after five straight weeks on the inactive list. With a new head coach in town, Melvin didn’t survive roster cuts in 2014.
Melvin landed on his feet, signing on with the Miami Dolphins practice squad. He wouldn’t last there long, as the second-year cornerback joined the Baltimore Ravens active roster early in November. He didn’t see the field until December, but he was soon starting for a Ravens team that made it all the way to the AFC Divisional Round. Melvin had a bad game in that playoff performance, allowing 12 receptions for 224 yards and two touchdowns to Tom Brady and the eventual Super Bowl champion New England Patriots.
Melvin started the 2015 season with Baltimore before getting released and signing with the Patriots. He didn’t last the whole season on the active roster, but remained on New England’s practice squad for the entirety of the 2015 season.
Melvin spent the next two years of his career with the Indianapolis Colts. Initially signed as a depth piece, Melvin became one of the more important members of the Colts secondary in 2016. Appearing in 15 games (starting nine), Melvin recorded 60 tackles and seven passes defended. Melvin was even better in 2017, recording 36 tackles and three interceptions in 10 games before suffering a season-ending hand injury.
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