Daisy Dukes and Ennis: Meet Ennis Rakestraw JR. Lions Seond Rounder

[Whitley]

Analysis

By Lance Zierlein
NFL Analyst

Draft Projection
Round 2

NFL Comparison
Roger McCreary

Overview
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. Strengths

• Highly competitive with quality toughness at the position.
• Rough ride for receivers when he’s jamming them from press.
• Excellent body control allows him to stay in phase against comeback routes.
• Drives hard to the throw from off coverages and runs through targets.
• Uses well-timed punches and slaps to disrupt the catch try.
• Salty in run support with willingness to wrap and lift ball-carriers.

Weaknesses

• Handsy play that will be flagged in the NFL.
• Won’t often get head turned to find the football on deep throws.
• Displayed some confusion from zone coverages in 2022.
• Recovery speed comes into question at times.
• Tore his ACL in 2021 and missed multiple games in 2023 due to groin injury.

Sources Tell Us


“I just don’t know how he’s going to run. You can mix and match him in coverages, but I think there will be some man matchups that are going to be tough for him.” - NFC regional scout

[Whitley]

Love this pick. CB is now a strength just like LB went from weakness to strength last year.

[Cody_Russell]

Brad Holmes nuking this Lions secondary. Enough of this bad play and nonsense over the years.

Love to see it.

[BJK]

I’m a Rakestraw fan. Think he’ll be a great fit for this team. Corner should not be a weakness for this team for a long time.

[JGSpartan]

I don't see Branch playing a ton at Safety but we'll see. Arnold is the only new guy that's really played and fits in the Nickel but I think they more than likely picked him to play outside.

[Cody_Russell]

I would point to snaps when the Lions used Branch and CJGJ together last season. Mix coverages. Versatility.

3:39 in the video:

[ghandi]

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Well at least he got his ACL tear out of the way in college....Looks like that was in 2021...last year he had a groin injury that knocked him out for 4 games....Also the Freep said he "is a little slow"...I didnt see a 40 time for him.

[Whitley]

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Well at least he got his ACL tear out of the way in college....Looks like that was in 2021...last year he had a groin injury that knocked him out for 4 games....Also the Freep said he "is a little slow"...I didnt see a 40 time for him.

He ran a 4.51 with a bad groin at the combine and ran a 4.47 at his pro day

[ghandi]

He ran a 4.51 with a bad groin at the combine and ran a 4.47 at his pro day

Ah so he hadnt fully healed yet then

[El Axe]

From The Ringer

#42 on the big board

SHADES OF BYRON MURPHY

PUGNACIOUS, VERSATILE COVER CORNER who loves to crowd receivers in press looks and plays with his aggression dial turned all the way up.

• Short-Area Quickness, Coverage Chops, Got That Dog in Him

SCOUTING REPORT BY DANNY KELLY

Rakestraw has a slim, sinewy build and long arms and brings an extremely feisty style to the field. The former Missouri standout is tough and physical in coverage and shows plenty of versatility, seeing snaps in both press- and off-man coverage while getting looks both on the outside and in the slot. Rakestraw loves to get up into opponents’ personal space with a strong jam, and he mirrors expertly. He’s smooth when flipping his hips to carry a receiver downfield. He’s quick with his hands and times his punches well to bat passes away at the catch point. He’s comfortable in half-turn technique with his butt to the sideline and is able to anticipate routes and break on them decisively. He’s twitchy in his click-and-close and plasters quickly to dissuade quarterbacks from making a pass. He communicates well in zone looks, getting teammates positioned while passing off opponents in coverage. He’s sticky when asked to man the slot, planting himself in opponents’ hip pockets and staying attached downfield. Rakestraw is a very strong tackler who gets himself in good position and finishes with few misses. He’s not afraid to come into the middle and square up a runner, and when he goes downhill, he looks to make a big hit.

Rakestraw has a thin frame and may not be able to add much bulk. He gets a little bit grabby in coverage and may need to clean that up at the next level. His ball skills and ball production remain a question mark: He tallied just four passes defensed and zero interceptions in 2023 after collecting 12 passes defensed and an interception the year prior. His injury history could be a concern for teams as well: He tore his ACL in 2021, missed time with a groin injury in 2023, and recently had surgery to repair a core muscle injury, which caused him to miss the Senior Bowl.

WHY HE COULD RISE

Rakestraw is a fiery, confident defender with the schematic versatility to play multiple spots on defense; he’s sticky in coverage and physical as a tackler.

WHY HE COULD FALL

He’s thin framed and came up short in the ball production department in 2023. He has sustained multiple serious injuries.

BACKGROUND AND STATS BY DANIEL COMER

• A redshirt junior and former three-star prospect out of Duncanville, Texas. Was the no. 68 cornerback in his class and the no. 882 player overall.
• Started all 10 games as a true freshman in 2020, finishing the year with six pass breakups and 24 tackles (two for loss).
• Played in four games (one start) in 2021 before suffering a season-ending torn ACL during practice. Returned in 2022 to start all 13 games for the Tigers and finished the season ranked second in pass breakups on the team, with 12.
• Saw action in nine games (eight starts) as a redshirt junior in 2023 and totaled a career-high 35 tackles. Finished his college career with just one interception in four seasons.
• Missed four games in 2023 because of groin and core muscle injuries. The core muscle injury required surgery and kept him out of the Senior Bowl.

FUN FACTS

• Compares his game to Denzel Ward’s because they “both love playing man coverage.”
• Listens to “Let It All Work Out” by Lil Wayne before games.

[El Axe]

From Dana Brugler's The Beast

#49 on the Big Board

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[El Axe]

Daniel Jeremiah

Rank 32
Ennis Rakestraw Jr.
Missouri · CB · Junior (RS)

Rakestraw is a rangy, fluid cornerback who plays with energy and toughness. He is physical in press coverage, and he stays attached underneath and vertically. He is a loose athlete who can flip his hips smoothly. He does a nice job staying on top of deep routes, and he can locate the ball. I'd like to see him do a better job of finishing with the ball instead of simply poking it away. He is awesome against the run; not only is he quick to key/read, but he attacks blockers, including offensive linemen. Watch the Georgia tape from this past November to see him thud off an offensive tackle before delivering a physical stop. He is always bouncing around; his energy is palpable through the screen. Overall, players with this profile at this position traditionally translate very well to the next level.

[El Axe]

No question that getting Rakestraw at 61 is great value

BIg Board Rankings from top Analysts:

Brugler (Athletic) 49
Kelly (Ringer) 42
Jeremiah (NFL.com) 32
Connor (NFL Stock Exchange/PFF) 52
Trevor (NFL Stock Exchange/PFF) 46
PFF 46

[whatever_gong82]

[Whitley]

That CB room is going to be stacked this year

Davis
Amik Robertson
Arnold
Rakestraw
Moseley (if healthy)
Vildor/S Gilmore/Dorsey