Instant analysis: How CB Ennis Rakestraw will impact the Detroit Lions

When Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes says he takes the best player available on his draft board, he means it. After selecting Alabama cornerback Terrion Arnold in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, the Lions went back to the cornerback market and selected Ennis Rakestraw of Missouri with pick No. 61 overall.

Rakestraw’s physicality and mental makeup has made him an easy connection to the Lions all offseason, something we saw early in the process.

“Rakestraw is my guy,” ESPN’s Matt Miller said in a February video conference. “That is my draft crush this year […] If you’re looking for a prototypical Detroit Lions-type player, I think that physicality at the line of scrimmage—he is a great tackler in space as well, especially for not being the biggest guy. He’s probably going to come in at like 6-foot, 190 pounds, maybe 195 if we’re lucky. He’s not a striking physical player when you’re just looking at height, weight, strength, but man, he absolutely plays as one of the most physical corners in this draft or in any draft. He’s right there with some of the best corners I’ve evaluated at playing near the line of scrimmage and using that physicality.”

NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah—who ranked Rakestraw as the 32nd-best player in this year’s draft class—also echoed that Rakestraw would be an ideal pairing with Detroit’s culture.

“The feistiness and toughness, the aggressiveness that he plays with, the energy, the passion that he plays with, yeah, he fits 100% with Detroit,” Jeremiah concluded.

Coverage scheme, positional range

Rakestraw is comfortable in zone and man coverage schemes but has a strong preference to stay in press man coverage whenever possible—which should come as no surprise considering the Lions’ preference to stay in man coverage as much as possible.

“Man-to-man is what I’m best at,” Rakestraw told Justin Melo of the Draft Network. “That’s how you maximize my skill set in coverage. Zone is great too, but I’ve always preferred to play man coverage. In my mind, I’m always using instincts to disrupt timing in man coverage. Not every rep is going to go your way, but man coverage gives me an opportunity to battle throughout the course of that rep.”

Rakestraw played roughly 80 percent of his college snaps on the outside but showed the ability to kick inside and play in the slot as well—which is where he started his career at Missouri. He’ll get his first shot in the NFL on the outside, but Rakestraw’s skills very much translate into the slot, where he could supplement Brian Branch and allow the Lions’ current nickel starter to roam the field and match up with opponents.

Skill set

“I’m an extremely physical and competitive cornerback,” Rakestraw self-scouted his game. “I love to tackle. I thrive when playing man coverage. I need to have more ball production, but my ability to judge the ball in flight is second to none. I don’t get a lot of interceptions, but I’ve rarely given up any catches, either. I know how to play the ball in the air.”

That’s an honest and fair assessment of Rakestraw’s skills, but I believe we can expand on that a bit more.

Rakestraw is very confident in his skills, plays with a chip on his shoulder, and carries his play with swagger. He’s the type of player who will deliver a big hit on you and then make sure you knew it was him.

In coverage, he is patient in getting into phase with receivers, showing solid range and fluidity in his tracking/mirroring movements. He is best in press man, and easily turns and runs with his man. His change-of-direction skills are on point and he can travel with routes. He is smart about knowing when to turn and locate the ball, which leads to fewer penalties.

Rakestraw does have some long-speed issues which can lead to problems if he is straight running with receivers, but more often than not he relies on his instincts to get over the top of his assignment and stay in a good position to make a play on the ball.

As Rakestraw pointed out, his overall ball production is something he can work on, but he is often in the right position to make plays on the ball, which is a highly positive step. With some NFL coaching, this is an area where he can improve.

Rakestraw’s best attribute is his run defense, as he is one of the best in the class. He is incredibly quick to diagnose what’s in front of him and he is willing to take on all blockers—yes, even offensive linemen—and is a highly proficient tackler.

Additionally, Rakestraw has experience as a gunner, which is an immediate path to snaps on special teams. Having a way to produce on special teams will be important because the Lions’ cornerback room is suddenly logjammed full of quality options and there will be strong competition in training camp for snaps.

Fighting through the bloodbath

The Lions wanted to improve their cornerbacks room this offseason and they used quite a bit of draft capital to do so. In acquiring Arnold, they used a third-round pick to trade up in the first and selected him. They used a second-round pick to grab Rakestraw. And they used another third-round pick to trade for Carlton Davis. In total, that’s four top-100 draft picks to acquire an instant starter and two young players who will help stabilize the room for the future.

In addition to the draft capital, the Lions re-signed Emmanuel Moseley, Kindle Vildor, and Khalil Dorsey, as well as signed Amik Robertson. When you add in the fact that they also had nickel defensive back Brian Branch in a starting role and Steven Gilmore and Craig James under contract.

With 10 cornerbacks on their roster and just three starting roles, the Lions will enter training camp with healthy competition for starting and depth roles, which should lead to improved depth and a better overall secondary.