Detroit Lions draft Ennis Rakestraw Jr.: How he fits, pick grade and scouting intel

The Detroit Lions selected Missouri cornerback Ennis Rakestraw Jr. with the No. 61 pick in Friday’s second round of the NFL Draft. He is the second cornerback drafted by the Lions this week, after they took Alabama’s Terrion Arnold in Thursday’s first round at No. 24.

NFL Draft 2024 tracker: Live blog, pick-by-pick grades and analysis
Big board best available: Who’s left from Dane Brugler’s Top 300?
Draft pick grades: Nick Baumgardner, Scott Dochterman rate Rounds 2-3
Full draft order: Team picks for all 257 selections
“The Athletic Football Show”: Watch live reaction to the draft

‘The Beast’ breakdown

Rakestraw ranked No. 49 in Dane Brugler’s Top 300 big board. Here’s what Brugler had to say about him in his annual NFL Draft guide:

“With his physicality and footwork, Rakestraw is at his best in press man, where he can stay square and smother underneath routes. Though he stays balanced in his transitions, he can lose a stride vertically to speed (his 1.92 “flying 20” time ranked 26th out of 28 cornerbacks who ran the 40-yard dash at the combine). His lack of interception-worthy plays is a concern, too.

“Overall, Rakestraw doesn’t have the desired long speed or build for his position, and his injury history is a concern, but he plays aggressive, sticky coverage with NFL-quality movement skills and confidence. He has NFL starting man-cover talent, if he stays healthy.”

Coaching intel

What an anonymous defensive backs coach had to say about Rakestraw in Bruce Feldman’s draft confidential:

“I think he’s a third corner with some upside. He’s thin-framed and has been hurt. You worry about about him getting hurt a lot.”

Scott Dochterman grades the pick

Detroit’s primary weakness entering the draft was cornerback. The Lions were aggressive in addressing it with a pair of quality cornerbacks in the first and second rounds. Here, the Lions snagged the aggressive Rakestraw, who had 24 career passes defended in 36 games at Missouri. Rakestraw (5-11, 183) missed four games last year with a groin injury.