Tag: Ennis Rakestraw

Terrion Arnold: What the Lions are getting with their first-round cornerback

Terrion Arnold: Breaking down what the Lions are getting with their first-round cornerback with film study from Russell Brown

It was shocking to see Terrion Arnold become available at the 24th overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft. It was expected that teams such as the Indianapolis Colts, Las Vegas Raiders and Jacksonville Jaguars would be “all-in” on Arnold but instead they all passed. This opened the door for Lions General Manager Brad Holmes to make a phone call and get aggressive.

He did just that.

When the 24th overall pick showed the Cowboys logo, the hundreds of thousands Detroit fans in attendance were booing. Suddenly, the Lions logo flashed, and the crowd got loud and went nuts. Once NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell walked across the stage and announced Alabama cornerback Terrion Arnold as the Lions pick, the crowd got louder and erupted with approval of the selection.

Arnold walked across the stage, held up the Lions jersey and announced to the crowd that “they got a star” and that “he was home.” Since then, we’ve seen clips of Arnold talking with family about getting and wanting a gold jacket. Meaning he wants to make a name for himself and make it to the Hall of Fame.

Everything about Terrion Arnold feels different. It’s not like most players that get drafted and are just “thankful for the opportunity” or “just can’t wait to get started.” Arnold wants to be great and it shines through his smile and everything he says.

Now we’ll see what he does when he steps onto the field in Detroit. For now, we can review his tape at Alabama this past season. So let’s do that and see what the Lions are getting with cornerback Terrion Arnold!

The first play I want to highlight is from the SEC Championship game between Alabama and Georgia. On the bottom of the screen, you’ll see Alabama CB Terrion Arnold (3) matched up against Georgia WR Ladd McConkey (84).

Aligned in press-man, Arnold is faced with the tough task of covering McConkey at the line of scrimmage. The reason that task is so tough is due to the release packages that McConkey has at his disposal. Labeled as one of the better and more fluid route runners in the 2024 NFL Draft, Arnold had to be at his best when matched up against him.

The play above shows just that as Arnold uses his hands to work against McConkey. Meanwhile, as the route breaks inside, Arnold flashes patience, quick feet and good fluidity to change direction and stay in the hip pocket of the receiver. As the pass is delivered, you can see Arnold draped over the shoulder of McConkey and it helps him stay in position to breakup the pass.

Moving onto the Rose Bowl matchup between Alabama and Michigan, Arnold is aligned in the slot. Matched up against the tight end, he looks more than comfortable for any route that threatens the defense vertically. Meanwhile, he reads the shoulders of the tight end right away.

Once the tight end fully turns, Arnold knows that a quicker route is being run, and he quickly closes the gap between himself and the tight end. Seeing the ball in the air, Arnold gets in position to play through the hands of the tight end to break up the pass.

Lastly, I want to highlight one of Arnold’s five interceptions in 2023. In the play above, the Kentucky offense uses a trip left formation. Arnold is highlighted, and prior to the snap, he communicates with the rest of the defense. There’s even an instance where two defenders are staring at Arnold as he communicates.

Aligned in off-man, you’ll notice the fluidity from Arnold. His tape is filled with plays just like this, where he’s able to flip his hips and stay in position due to quick feet and good pad level. As the receiver breaks towards the sideline, you’ll notice how Arnold is in great positioning to stay on top of the route.

Reading the eyes of the quarterback from the far hash, he knows he can jump this route and he does just that and it leads to the interception. These types of ball skills and instincts were missing from the Lions secondary last season and Arnold should be able to develop into a playmaker in Detroit.

Overall, there’s so much to love when watching Terrion Arnold play football. Depending on who you talk with, he was potentially the best defensive player in the 2024 NFL Draft. If he weren’t, he would have been a close second. Most cornerbacks that have his talent end up being selected somewhere in the top 20, but fortunately, the offensive talent in the draft pushed him right into reaching distance for Brad Holmes and the Lions to strike.

For Arnold, he’s a good athlete and it shows. He’s a former high school basketball player and he also ran track. In basketball, he averaged 8.8 PPG and 4 RPG while having a PR of 23.92 seconds in the 200-meter dash for track and field.

In football, Arnold excels in man coverage with his press-man skills. He plays physical and loves contact and competition from the opposition. His aggressiveness will get him trouble as it appears to cause his technique to get wild or it’ll take him out of position. But his fluidity, effort and ability to press and lockdown receivers is encouraging for his development in the NFL.

There’s potential for him to be a starter from day one but fortunately, the Lions have enough veteran depth that he can ease his way into a starting role for Detroit. With how talented and competitive Arnold is, it wouldn’t be surprising if he started right away for Detroit. It’s easy to see why he’s the perfect fit for the Lions defense. 

Watch: Detroit Lions Podcast draft recap episode

Watch: Detroit Lions Podcast recaps and breaks down the 2024 NFL draft in Detroit and the Lions’ picks

The latest edition of the Detroit Lions Podcast is now available to stream or download. This week’s live episode, recorded on Monday night, is devoted to the 2024 NFL draft weekend and what happened for the Lions.

From showing some love to Detroit as an excellent host city for the event to roaming through each of the Lions’ picks, this one breaks down all things Detroit Lions draft.

It’s a pretty impressive draft haul from Lions GM Brad Holmes, though the immediate contributions might not be huge from the draft class. We break down how each player fits in the big picture as well as in 2024.

There is also a segment near the end going over the recent contract extensions to Penei Sewell and Amon-Ra St. Brown.

The audio-only version of the podcast is now available from your favorite podcast provider.

Detroit Lions’ 2024 selections earn ‘Most Valuable Draft Class’ honor

Detroit Lions’ 2024 selections earn ‘Most Valuable Draft Class’ honor in Warren Sharp’s analytical measurement

NFL analyst Warren Sharp considers the Detroit Lions’ 2024 NFL Draft selections to be the “Most Valuable Draft Class” based on a new metric.

Sharp has come up with Draft Capital Over Expectation (DCOE), a formula that compiles mock drafts and big boards from reputable sources in order to assign a “value” to each draft-eligible player.

The metric then considers what draft capital was used for those picks. DCOE assigns a value associated with the averaged expected spot for the player and compares it to the spot where the player was drafted. Used a second-round pick on a guy that most thought would go in the fifth? You spent a lot on something much less valuable. Conversely, spend a fifth-round pick on a first-round talent that fell farther than expected and you spent very little for a “more valuable” player.

According to Sharp’s DCOE, the Detroit Lions came out on top.

Despite losing significant value on the Giovanni Manu pick, the Lions were cited by Sharp for “receiving substantial value in four of their six picks.”

Those picks were Terrion Arnold, Ennis Rakestraw, Mekhi Wingo, and Christian Mahogany. Mahogany is considered the highest value pick of the class as he was frequently mocked to go in the top-100, but was selected at pick 210.

[lawrence-related id=106271]

Wingo was selected 80 places later than DCOE predicted, Rakestraw was 21 past the expected number, and Arnold went 24th while the model suggested 16th overall.

DCOE does claim that the Lions overreached for Sione Vaki by 19 picks and that Manu was expected to go undrafted, meaning an extra amount was lost due to the Lions trading up to the fourth round for him.

The Dolphins, Chiefs, Steelers, and Eagles subsequently followed Detroit as the most valuable draft classes.

 

‘Tone-setter’ Ennis Rakestraw ready to work with the Lions, Terrion Arnold

‘Tone-setter’ Ennis Rakestraw ready to work with the Lions and fellow draftee Terrion Arnold

Ennis Rakestraw is the newest Detroit Lions cornerback, joining the team one round after the Lions selected fellow SEC CB Terrion Arnold from Alabama in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft.

The two didn’t know each other until the draft process began. In fact, the Lions had the duo come in for their pre-draft visits together. While they primarily play the same outside CB with aggressive physicality, they do it in divergent mindsets.

General manager Brad Holmes noted the different personalities in his first two picks. They’re both confident and physical, but they approach the game from different backgrounds and personality types.

“Yeah, so first of all, going to Terrion I know we talked about just the personality and just big energy, big personality, very, very confident,” Holmes said before Rakestraw’s interview with the local media. “Ennis is actually different. You feel the confidence. Me and (Lions Head Coach) Dan (Campbell) sitting there and talking to him, I just kind of felt ‘dog’ exuding out of him, just a lot more quiet, just kind of to the point and to the business, not as loud and vocal and vivid personality like Terrion was.

Holmes continued,

“And again, that’s how all these kids are. There’s – it’s actually a really fun process where all of them are asked a lot of the same questions and you get these different answers. They’re all different personalities. But Terrion and Ennis, both of them you really felt like, ‘OK, these guys fit who we’re about. These guys fit our culture.’

Rakestraw might not be as outwardly confident or loquacious as his new teammate, but he’s quick to point out his leadership and intensity.

“I call myself the ‘Tone-setter.’ My defense used to call me the firecracker of the team, because yeah, I’m a corner, but I’ll come up and set that edge,” Rakestraw said. “I’ll hit you like a linebacker and I just let my presence be felt every play that I’m out there.”

Lions have a long term plan at cornerback after the 2024 NFL Draft

Lions have a long term plan at cornerback after using their first two picks of the 2024 NFL Draft on Terrion Arnold and Ennis Rakestraw

Catching Lions fans by surprise, the Detroit Lions selected Missouri cornerback Ennis Rakestraw with the 61st overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. This caught fans off guard because on the opening night of the draft, the Lions moved up and selected Alabama cornerback Terrion Arnold with the 24th overall pick.

Now some may look at Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell and say they’re trying to be the “smartest guys in the room” by doubling down at the cornerback position. Before you think that, just look at what the Philadelphia Eagles did with their first two picks of the year. They did the exact same thing so let’s just hit the brakes.

Fortunately, there’s a general consensus to trust Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell when it comes to the way they attack the draft process They operate with conviction and they trust their process. For the 2024 NFL Draft, not only did the Lions draft good football players but they showed that they’re preparing for the future.

It’s not a move that we’ve seen very often as Lions fans but a long term plan at the cornerback position is a smart move by Detroit. For starters, they only have Carlton Davis and Emmanuel Moseley under contract for this upcoming season. Additionally, they only signed Amik Robertson to a two-year contract.

https://x.com/RussNFLDraft/status/1784030416883597314

Despite having those veteran defensive backs, there’s longevity concerns with Davis and Moseley. Both players have dealt with multiple injuries over the last two seasons. Most importantly, it was clear that the Lions had issues in the secondary last season.

The Lions allowed the 6th most passing yards per game (247.4 passing yards) and the 6th most passing touchdowns (28 passing touchdowns) in the NFL last season. Getting a plan in place to improve their secondary was a priority this off-season and it’s clear the Lions front office felt the same way.

https://x.com/RussNFLDraft/status/1783900797643985353

Adding Rakestraw and Arnold gives the Lions their future number one and number two cornerbacks. They are the exact type of players that the Lions value. Tough and hard nosed football players that get after it every chance they get. For both players, I described them both as willing run defenders that embrace contact on the perimeter.

According to PFF run defense scores, the top-2 scores belong to Arnold (90.6) and Rakestraw (89.0). Those are the exact players that will be valued in Detroit under this regime. Here’s my overall projections on both players from my 2024 NFL Draft Guide:

Terrion Arnold — “Arnold enters the NFL with the projection of being a number one cornerback. Defenses searching for a corner that excels in man coverage will love the talent possessed by Arnold. He plays physical and loves contact and competition from the opposition. His aggressiveness will get him trouble as it appears to cause his technique to get wild or it’ll take him out of position. But his fluidity, effort and ability to press and lockdown receivers is encouraging for his development in the NFL.”

Ennis Rakestraw — “Rakestraw is a highly competitive cornerback that is tough and physical. His length helps him jam and redirect defenders while battling at the catch point. Productive in both man and zone coverage, he appears best suited as a press-man corner in the NFL. His aggressiveness in the run game is a plus on the perimeter but his physicality can become troublesome downfield in coverage. If Rakestraw can stay healthy, he can be a number two cornerback in a defense looking for another man defender.”

With Terrion Arnold, he needs to clean up some of his lower body technique as he tends to leave his feet too early and his lower half doesn’t always follow or flow evenly with the rest of his body.

As for Rakestraw, he will get flagged due to his physical nature but the biggest key for him is staying healthy. The ACL injury in 2021 and groin injury in 2023 will be worth monitoring. Oddly enough, I compared Rakestraw to current Lions cornerback Emmanuel Moseley.

No matter the pro comparisons and some of the slight knocks to both players games, I’m very excited for their development in Detroit. To me, the Lions got great value with Rakestraw and in all honesty, the same could be said about Arnold. After all, the Crimson Tide defender was my top ranked corner and my 14th ranked player in the draft.

Getting better on defense was clearly a big part of the Lions agenda this off-season. Fortunately, they developed a plan and stuck to it. On paper, it makes sense and appears to be a great plan. We’ll see how it transitions to success on the field but right now, the future looks bright in the Lions secondary.

The Ennis Rakestraw selection forces a complicated reaction

The Lions draft selection of Ennis Rakestraw forces a complicated reaction and analysis

Analyzing the Detroit Lions selection of Missouri cornerback Ennis Rakestraw is a complex exercise. His profile, fit and selection circumstance definitely conjure mixed feelings. There’s quite a bit to really love, but also some important questions that need to get answered but won’t get resolved overnight.

Let’s get into the talented outside cornerback from Missouri.

Rakestraw was the No. 56 player on my big board, which inherently makes the pick a solid value from my perspective. He’s a player who should rank higher for the Lions because of his style of play; Rakestraw is an aggressive, straight press-man cornerback on the outside, not a zone coverage guy and not a slot. He’s a smart player on and off the field, and he relishes the challenge of going up against the opponent’s top weapon. He’s got

I do have concerns with Rakestraw. It starts with his durability. He missed most of the 2021 season with a torn ACL, then missed four games last year with a groin injury. He had core muscle surgery this offseason for a separate injury, which kept him out of the Senior Bowl. Rakestraw weighs just 183 pounds on a lanky 5-foot-11 frame that really does look taller in person.

The other concern is with his recovery speed. As I noted in his prospect breakdown,

“Top-end speed isn’t great and he lacks a chase gear when beaten; the 4.54 40-time at the combine shows on tape.”

The good thing about Rakestraw is that he knows his own game well enough to adapt to playing with below-average top speed. He’s very physical at the line and uses his strength and body positioning very well to prevent clean releases for receivers. He also gets a little grabby, something that will need to get cleaned up–and something true of many college CBs.

So, scheme fit: check. Grit fit: big check. It’s very easy to see why the Lions and Holmes loved him and couldn’t resist taking him even though they just traded a third-round pick to move up and take Arnold and traded another third-round pick for Carlton Davis earlier this offseason. All three are at their best playing the exact same spot…and that’s where the other concern creeps in.

I’ll know better how I feel about this pick in a couple of years when we all see how Rakestraw is working out in relative comparison to some of the other players who were available that I would have taken over him in Detroit at No. 61. Among those I’ll be keeping a comparative eye on:

  • Cooper Beebe, OL, Kansas State (Cowboys pick No. 73 overall)
  • Malachi Corley, WR, Western Kentucky (Jets, 65th)
  • Zak Zinter, OL, Michigan (Browns, 85th)
  • Bralen Trice, EDGE, Washington (Falcons, 74th)

Rakestraw is a good player, no doubt about it. I’m bullish on what he can do in Detroit if he stays healthy and cleans up his grabbiness to meet NFL officiating standards. However, double-dipping in the first two rounds at the same position is risky when there’s so little depth along the offensive line, safety and defensive interior.

Cornerback depth thins out after 2024, too, and that’s when the evaluation clock really begins on Rakestraw and his selection here. Fingers crossed.

 

Grading the Lions selection of Ennis Rakestraw in second round

The Detroit Lions doubled down in the cornerback room with the selection of Missouri CB Ennis Rakestraw in the second round

Following the selection of Terrion Arnold in the first round, the Detroit Lions continued to bolster their cornerback corps by drafting Missouri CB Ennis Rakestraw with their second-round pick, initiating a comprehensive overhaul of last year’s cornerback room.

The decision to pick consecutive cornerbacks may have surprised observers, but Rakestraw embodies the qualities the Lions value in their players. Described as “super competitive” and willing to contribute in run defense, Rakestraw aligns perfectly with the Lions’ ethos of giving their all on the field to earn playing time.

Rakestraw’s skill set meshes well with the Lions’ press-man coverage scheme, having demonstrated versatility by playing both inside and outside at Missouri. His strong coverage abilities enable him to shadow opponents effectively, complemented by his physicality and relentless attitude.

However, concerns linger regarding Rakestraw’s lack of ball production, with just one interception in his college career, as well as his injury history, which includes a torn ACL and groin injury. Despite these drawbacks, Rakestraw’s short-area speed and sticky coverage skills offer promise for his NFL career.

The Lions likely view Rakestraw as a long-term investment, especially considering the thinning of their secondary group after the 2024 season. With the depth added during the offseason, the Lions can afford to ease Rakestraw into action, allowing him to develop and acclimate to the NFL.

Nevertheless, Rakestraw’s tenacity and determination suggest he’ll vie for playing time from the outset, setting the stage for an intriguing competition during training camp.

The Lions’ defensive back room now boasts an array of talented players, providing flexibility in defensive packages. Rakestraw’s addition reinforces the Lions’ desire for physical, aggressive cornerbacks, offering the potential for a formidable cornerback duo alongside Arnold for years to come.

Grade: B+

Lions bolster depth in secondary with selection of Ennis Rakestraw Jr.

Lions bolster depth in secondary with selection of Ennis Rakestraw Jr. in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft

Holding firm with the 61st pick, the Detroit Lions doubled down at the cornerback position and selected Ennis Rakestraw Jr. out of Missouri.

Rakestraw joins fellow rookie Terrion Arnold in Detroit’s secondary, but may not be a day-one starter like Arnold. The Lions traded a third-round pick for Carlton Davis earlier in the offseason, signed Amik Robertson in free agency and re-signed Emmanuel Moseley and Khalil Dorsey.

Davis and Arnold are the likely candidates to start at outside cornerback, but the addition of Rakestraw could open up some opportunities for Aaron Glenn’s defense.

Rakestraw is a true outside cornerback who utilizes his length and physicality to out-leverage opposing receivers. While he most likely has to wait in the wings for a starting role, there is a chance that the Lions rearrange some players to get the best secondary combination possible.

Arnold and Davis both have experience in the nickel cornerback position, and the Lions have made it know that they want to utilize Brian Branch more at safety in 2024. If either of the aforementioned cornerbacks move to the slot, then Rakestraw would be able to see some extra playing time this upcoming season.

Regardless of if he starts at cornerback or is limited to special teams duties, the Lions got a physical football player who doesn’t shy away from contact. Rakestraw will surely make his presence known one way or another in 2024.

 

Lions select Missouri CB Ennis Rakestraw in the second round

Lions select Missouri CB Ennis Rakestraw in the second round of the 2024 NFL draft

The Detroit Lions have selected Missouri cornerback Ennis Rakestraw with the No. 61 overall pick of the 2024 NFL draft.

Rakestraw joins a secondary that also added fellow SEC cornerback Terrion Arnold, from Alabama, in the first round one night earlier. He was a popular projection for Detroit throughout the draft process.

Here’s a quick snippet from our scouting report on Rakestraw,

Rakestraw is a good outside cornerback prospect with some legitimate questions about his ability to thrive at the next level. He’s smart, cat-quick, and at his best in the physical man coverage the Lions like to use outside. While he’s not a great run defender, he’s at least willing. His feet, hips and balance are all fantastic—traits a coaching staff can work with. 

Video: Breaking down the prospects with injuries entering the draft

Video: Breaking down the 2024 NFL draft prospects with injury risks with Dr. Jimmy Liao of the Detroit Lions Podcast

As a special angle for our draft coverage, we’re sharing a recent video from the Detroit Lions Podcast that goes over the injury status and outlooks for several of the 2024 NFL draft prospects who figure to interest the Detroit Lions.

Dr. Jimmy Liao, a board-certified practicing physician and graduate of the University of Michigan’s medical school as well as a lifelong Lions fan, went into detail on the level of risk on a few prospects. From Kool-Aid McKinstry’s troublesome foot surgery (severe concern) to Jackson Powers-Johnson and Ennis Rakestraw (moderate concern), Zac Zinter (light concern) and more, Dr. Liao goes over the injuries and his relative worries about how it might limit them in the NFL and the Lions, if drafted into Detroit.

[affiliatewidget_smgtolocal]

Thanks to Dr. Liao for the detailed breakdowns and information on the risk level with all the prospects and also for answering my personal question about soft tissue injuries.