Tag: Ennis Rakestraw

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

PFF names Missouri CB Ennis Rakestraw as best Day 2 fit for Colts

Pro Football Focus recently picked Missouri cornerback Ennis Rakestraw as the best Day 2 fit for the Colts in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Pro Football Focus named Missouri cornerback Ennis Rakestraw Jr. as the best Day 2 fit for the Indianapolis Colts.

Here is the reasoning from Dalton Wasserman on that pairing:

“Indianapolis led the NFL in Cover-3 usage in 2023. Missouri’s Ennis Rakestraw Jr. was the best Cover-3 cornerback in this class over the past two seasons, posting an 83.4 coverage grade. His size and feel for zone coverages would be an asset. Rakestraw also recorded an outstanding 89.0 run-defense grade in 2023.”

Rakestraw played nearly 2,000 snaps in college, most of which came on the boundary, but he does have slot experience as well.

Rakestraw has been a sound tackler, missing only eight of his 81 attempts over the last two seasons. As a result, he’s been one of PFF’s highest-graded run defenders at the cornerback position during that span.

In coverage over his career, Rakestraw allowed a completion rate of 59.7 percent at 12.4 yards per catch with 21 pass breakups, 10 of which came in 2022, but only one interception.

Lance Zierlein’s NFL comp for Rakestraw is Roger McCreary. Here is what Zierlein had to say about him in his pre-draft report:

“Rakestraw plays the game with good physicality and a competitive tilt that defensive back coaches will enjoy. He’s strong but not as big or fast as teams usually like when picking within the first three rounds of the draft. However, he’s hard-nosed in press and has the body control and anticipation to play a sticky brand of man coverage over the first two levels. He’s quicker than fast and does a nice job of breaking quickly on throws in front of him with well-timed challenges to knock the ball free. He intercepted only one pass during his college career, which could be a concern, but his willingness and toughness in run support work in his favor. Rakestraw could become a good backup with eventual starter potential in the right scheme.”

When discussing Rakestraw, particularly when it comes to potential interest the Colts might have, it’s important to note his athletic testing.

Rakestraw measures in at 5-11 and weighs 183 pounds. Following his Pro Day performance, which was better than the NFL combine, Rakestraw posted a Relative Athletic Score (RAS) of 6.14, and featured a 4.51-second 40-yard dash and a 4.38-second shuttle.

The reason that this is of potential significance to the Colts is that over the last two drafts, GM Chris Ballard has constructed two of the more athletic draft classes. In 2022, the lowest RAS by a Ballard draft pick was 9.34. Last year, nine of his 12 selections had a RAS above 9.0, and the lowest was 8.48.

To read more about the Colts and RAS, click here.

If the Colts were to take Rakestraw, or any cornerback for that matter on Day 2, that likely means they either addressed receiver, took tight end Brock Bowers, or potentially edge rusher in the first round.

Cornerback remains the biggest need for the Colts. Last season, the Colts’ secondary ranked 22nd in yards per pass attempt allowed and 22nd in pass breakups. During their final four games, the Colts allowed a completion rate of 68 percent, which ranked 30th in the NFL.

As the roster is currently constructed, Kenny Moore will be in the slot, with JuJu Brents presumably at one of the boundary positions with Dallis Flowers, who is coming off an Achilles injury, and Jaylon Jones competing for the other starting spot.

In a very deep cornerback class, Rakestraw is PFF’s ninth-ranked cornerback and their 42nd-rated prospect overall.

Watch: 5 players the Lions shouldn’t draft in 2024

Watch: 5 players the Lions shouldn’t draft in 2024 from Lions Wire’s Jeff Risdon

We talk a lot about the players we want the Detroit Lions to pick, or prospects we think the team might actually select later this month in the 2024 NFL draft. This time around, we’re going over five prospects that sometimes get projected to the Lions that I don’t want Detroit GM Brad Holmes to draft.

In conjunction with the Detroit Lions Podcast, I laid out five realistic prospects for the Lions that I am not interested in drafting. Of course, that doesn’t mean they’re not good prospects and won’t become good NFL players, but there are concerns about each—be it injury history, inexperience or fit with this Lions regime—that makes me want to look elsewhere.

The audio-only version of the show is available via your favorite podcast provider.

Lions draft prospect of the day: Ennis Rakestraw, CB, Missouri

Breaking down the scouting profile of Missouri CB Ennis Rakestraw and how he might fit the Detroit Lions

The Lions Draft Prospect of the Day sticks in the secondary with a player who has been popularly projected to be Detroit’s top pick before the NFL Scouting Combine. 

The focus for the Lions prospect of the day is on players who should hold some appeal to Detroit in the draft, with a focus on the more likely positions the team will be targeting. If you’re looking for quarterbacks or upper-echelon running backs, you’re probably not going to find those here. Outside cornerbacks, defensive linemen, interior offensive linemen, some wide receivers and offensive tackles figure to appear along the path to April’s draft. Not all of the players will be top-100 prospects, either.

Today’s prospect is a teammate and running mate of yesterday’s featured player. 

Ennis Rakestraw, CB, Missouri

Height: 5-foot-11

Weight: 183 pounds (measured at NFL Scouting Combine)

A four-year player for the Tigers, Rakestraw started at corner in 32 career games. The Dallas-area native was a three-star recruit who played right away for Missouri, starting 10 games as a true freshman in 2020. He took a medical redshirt in 2021 after tearing his ACL early in the season, but bounced back to become a full-time starter in his final two years. In 2023, the honor roll fixture registered 35 tackles and four pass breakups in 10 games, following up a 2022 where Rakestraw broke out with 12 PDs and and INT to go with 4.5 TFLs and 35 tackles. He turns 23 in June.

What I like

  •  Physical corner who is at his best aggressively pressing at the line
  • Very quick, active feet that never stop
  • Above-average route recognition and has the feet and fluid hips to quickly react
  • Stronger than he looks for his skinny frame and isn’t shy about hitting
  • Stays in phase well on in-breaking routes
  • Experienced playing in both the slot and outside, though primarily outside
  • Works actively to shed blocks
  • Tended to play better against higher-level competition
  • Might have best-in-class lower-body flexibility

What worries me going into the NFL

  •  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
  • Guilty of a lot of illegal contact fouls that aren’t penalties in college; counted at least three in all six games I watched
  • Injuries: Torn ACL in 2021, missed 4 games in 2023 with a groin injury, missed 2024 Senior Bowl with a separate core muscle injury
  • Doesn’t reliably locate the ball in the air in man coverage
  • Not nearly as effective in coverage if he can’t get his hands on the receiver early

Best game I watched: LSU

Worst game I watched: Kansas State ’22

Overall

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. 

There are some definite points of concern. Rakestraw came in shorter and lighter than expected and didn’t test well at the combine. He was dealing with a lingering injury, and injuries are a big part of Rakestraw’s profile. His slight frame and aggressive style aren’t exactly a combination that leads to durability. He’ll need to learn the five-year contact rule quickly.

Rakestraw projects as a second-round pick with high upside but also a lower floor than a lot of his peers. I would prefer teammate Kris Abrams-Draine in Detroit, though the Lions might not see it that way.

 

NFL draft: Will the 49ers try something other than OL in Round 1?

What if the #49ers don’t draft an offensive lineman in Round 1?

All signs point toward the 49ers taking an offensive lineman with their first-round pick in this year’s draft. It’s a key position of need now and in the future, and the draft class is supposed to be deep enough that even at No. 31 San Francisco should be able to find a starting-caliber offensive tackle. However, a couple different mock drafts have laid out an alternate route where they address a different need in Round 1, and then take advantage of the OL depth in the class by taking one in Round 2.

One example of this came from Draft Wire, which had Penn State defensive end Chop Robinson going to the 49ers at No. 31 overall in a two-round projection. At No. 63 they snagged Notre Dame OT Blake Fisher.

Another example came via ESPN’s Jordan Reid, who mocked Missouri cornerback Ennis Rakestraw Jr. to the 49ers in the first round, with Houston OT Patrick Paul going to San Francisco in the second round.

This would be a fascinating way for the 49ers to attack this year’s draft. Their need on the offensive line is immediate and it would seem inconceivable that they’d pass up a high-end talent at that spot in the first round. However, they also need upgrades in the secondary and at defensive end so it would be completely justifiable if their best player available is one of those two positions. Bolstering a defense that wobbled a couple times this season and could see a significant exodus of depth this offseason would certainly make a lot of sense in their return to the first round.

On the other hand, there are potential pitfalls with this plan.

The most notable one is that the further down in the draft they go the more likely it is they wind up with an OL who’s not necessarily ready to start right away. While a first-round OL might be a Day 1 starter, a second-round OL may have some flaws that require ongoing development before that player can slot in as a starting offensive lineman. We saw something like this with left guard Aaron Banks. He was a second-round pick in 2021, but didn’t play any kind of significant snaps until he became the starting LG in 2022.

This will be an assessment the 49ers’ front office has to weigh heavily when they’re on the clock in the first round. Can they afford to neglect the offensive line with their most premium draft capital, or can they find an adequate addition at some point on Day 2?

For now we can expect mock drafts to continue heavily leaning toward an offensive lineman going to the 49ers, and that’s they way we’d expect the team to pick on Draft Day.

There are definitely available routes in a different direction though where they can address that top need later on. It just comes with the risk that San Francisco goes into 2024 with some of the same quality and depth issues that has plagued them at times throughout Kyle Shanahan’s tenure as head coach.

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