Ennis Rakestraw

Another cornerback for the Detroit Lions! The Lions draft Missouri cornerback Ennis Rakestraw Jr. at 61st overall after taking Alabama’s Terrion Arnold at 24th overall.  Rakestraw will bring his impressive physicality, strength, and toughness to the Lions along with Arnold and star safety Brian Branch. His skills in both pass coverage and run stopping will be key to help rebuild the Detroit secondary.

Rakestraw is a hard-nosed competitor, whose body control and anticipation in coverage as well as his tenacious play against the run, will translate well into Detroit’s defensive identity under Head Coach Dan Campbell and DC Aaron Glenn. However, he tore his ACL in 2021 and had a groin injury in 2023, so he does come with some injury risk. The Lions are hoping to leave their defensive struggles in the past by adding these two very talented rookies to line up against this draft’s infusion of offensive talent across the NFL.