Up next in the Unpacking Future Packers draft preview series is Missouri cornerback Ennis Rakestraw Jr.
The Unpacking Future Packers Countdown is a countdown of 100 prospects that could be selected by the Green Bay Packers in the 2024 NFL draft.
The Green Bay Packers appear to have a solid group of cornerbacks. Jaire Alexander is an all-pro caliber player. Carrington Valentine showed promise last season as a seventh-round rookie. Keisean Nixon is back to man the nickel position. If Eric Stokes can rediscover his rookie form the Packers could have a solid foundation in place.
There are obvious concerns with this group. Can Alexander and Stokes stay healthy? The Packers have experienced cornerbacks enjoying success during their rookie seasons, like Valentine did, only to see them flame out.
The Packers will start the 2024 NFL Draft with 11 picks and given the question marks at the cornerback position, it’s a safe bet that Brian Gutekunst will add a body or two to the mix.
A player that Gutekunst could target on Day 2 of the upcoming draft is Ennis Rakestraw Jr. The Missouri cornerback checks in at No. 47 in the Unpacking Future Packers Countdown.
Rakestraw, a three-star recruit out of Texas started in 10 games during his first season on campus and finished his freshman campaign with two tackles for loss, one interception and six pass deflections.
After missing the majority of the 2021 campaign due to injury, Rakestraw recorded 4.5 tackles for loss, one interception and 12 pass deflections during the 2022 season.
Rakestraw missed five games this past season and recorded 1.5 tackles for loss and broke up four passes.
“He did miss five games in 2023, including the Cotton Bowl game so it’s easy to compare the defense with and without him,” Joey Van Zummeren, a Missouri reporter for Mizzou Central, said. “His physical and aggressive playing style not only makes him an exciting player but also affects the mindset of the defense. The Missouri coaching staff often talks about having a “nasty” defense with the self-proclaimed nickname of the “death row defense.” Rakestraw was a big part of that.”
Teams are going to love Rakestraw’s combative spirit. He plays with an Alaskan-sized chip on his shoulder and doesn’t back down from any challenge.
“Physicality is his trademark skill and is evident in all aspects of his game,’ Van Zummeren said. “But I do think that physicality wouldn’t be as effective if it weren’t for his football IQ. He knows when to use it and when to switch it off. He knows when to be patient with routes instead of jumping at the first sign of a cut. His intelligence should really boost his draft stock.”
Rakestraw stays balanced in his pedal and flips his hips with ease. He’s sticky in coverage. He enjoys greeting the wide receivers at the line of scrimmage to make them uncomfortable. The Missouri cornerback reads the wide receiver’s eyes and plays through their hands at the catch point.
Rakestraw offers inside-outside versatility. He has the short-area quickness and toughness to man the slot position. During his time at Missouri, he logged 374 snaps in the slot.
“He can jam receivers at the line really well, pretty much completely throwing them off their routes,” Van Zummeren said. “He’s undersized by most team’s standards but makes up for it by playing with the confidence to get handsy. His footwork, especially when backpedaling, is also great. Combine that with his short-area quickness and he can disrupt plenty of passes.”
Rakestraw looks for work against the run. His quick reactions help him spring downhill with purpose. The physical cornerback is a reliable open-field tackler. According to PFF, Rakestraw was tagged with eight missed tackles over the past two seasons.
“In the run game, he simply refuses to give up on any play,” Van Zummeren said. “Anyone who tries to block him has to be prepared for his tenacity. Obviously, NFL offensive linemen and tight ends will have more luck with him than they did in college but he’s not easy to take out of a play. In space, he has the quickness to at least slow a runner down.”
Fit with the Packers
The Packers need insurance at the cornerback position. Rakestraw could battle Stokes and Valentine for starting reps opposite Alexander, while also potentially challenging Nixon for snaps in the slot.
“I’d draft Rakestraw because I believe his floor is relatively high and could eventually turn into an elite corner,” Van Zummeren said. “Even if his physicality at the line doesn’t translate when he has to go against bigger receivers, he has the natural skills needed to be a reliable corner and should help out in the run game as well.”
Rakestraw plays with an edge. As the kids say, he has that dawg in him. He plays with confidence and can develop into a lockdown boundary cornerback or a reliable nickel corner.
If the Missouri cornerback is on the board when the Packers are on the clock with one of their four Day 2 picks, Gutekunst could add him to the mix as the Packers search for playmakers in the secondary.
