Ennis Rakestraw

Lions selected Missouri CB Ennis Rakestraw with the No. 61 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Rakestraw (5’11/183) was rated as a standard three-star prospect and the 70th cornerback from the 2020 recruiting class. Rakestraw diligently rehabbed an ACL injury and was able to return in time to start Missouri’s 2022 season opener against Louisiana Tech and play a career-high 725 snaps, 10 PBUs, and a 50% completion rate while forcing incompletions on 23% of his targets. He ran a respectable 4.51s 40-yard dash with a laudable 1.52s 10-yard split that ranks in the 90th percentile. Though spindly, Rakestraw has abnormally long 32-inch arms, which help him probe receivers and be disruptive at the catch point. Comfortable in press coverage and has legitimate mirroring skills that keep him in phase during breaks. Rakestraw is noticeably light and can get washed out when he doesn’t get an immediate read on the play, but he is more than happy to step up in run support and do his job on the outside. He had trouble staying on the field with injuries, which could add to concerns about his slight frame and questionable long speed. 205 snaps from the slot over the last two years shows his versatility to play inside or outside. He profiles like a less-athletic version of Washington Commanders CB Emmanuel Forbes.