Grades:
SN Iyer (61. Detroit Lions: Ennis Rakestraw Jr., CB, Mississippi State - Grade: A+. The Lions get another dynamic cover man to rebuild their cornerback again after jumping on Terrion Arnold in the first round. They targeted Rakestraw as an ideal fit for Aaron Glenn’s coverage scheme.): https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl/news/nfl-draft-grades-2024-live-picks-results/eec4465a486ca0e01ed4c82b
Walter football (Detroit Lions: Ennis Rakestraw, CB, Missouri – A+ Grade. The Lions may not have trouble stopping the pass much longer. I love that they’re attacking cornerback, given how much of a weakness it has been in the past. Ennis Rakestraw provides amazing value because he was discussed as someone who could sneak into the end of the opening round. I’m surprised he lasted this long.): https://walterfootball.com/nfldraftgrades2.php
2024 NFL Draft First-Round Grades for All 32 Picks (61. Detroit Lions | Ennis Rakestraw Jr., CB, Missouri
After taking Terrion Arnold in the first round, the Lions doubled down on the secondary with Rakestraw, a prospect some thought would go in the first round. Detroit is wisely remaking its perimeter coverage. Grade: A): https://www.si.com/nfl/2024/04/26/2024-nfl-draft-second-round-third-round-pick-grades
Draft wire (61 - Detroit Lions - CB Ennis Rakestraw Jr., Missouri - Grade: A): https://draftwire.usatoday.com/lists/2024-nfl-draft-tracker-grades/
Athletic (Round 2
No. 61: Ennis Rakestraw Jr., CB, Missouri - How he fits
Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glen couldn’t call as much man coverage as he wanted to last season simply because he didn’t have the corners to do it. GM Brad Holmes has attacked that problem with aggression. The Lions traded for Carlton Davis III, drafted Arnold in the first round and now have drafted Rakestraw, another press man corner, in the second round. Rakestraw is undersized and doesn’t have great speed but he’s competitive and instinctive. — Ted Nguyen. Dane Brugler’s analysis - “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.” Scott Dochterman’s grade: A-minus): https://theathletic.com/5435373/2024/04/26/detroit-lions-2024-draft-picks-grades-scouting-reports/
Yardbarker (2nd round, 61st overall: cornerback Ennis Rakestraw: After trading up for Arnold, Brad Holmes had to make the 61st pick count. Without a third-round pick, Holmes opted to double-dip at cornerback. With Cam Sutton released and Emmanuel Moseley entering free agency, depth is a must. Ennis Rakestraw Jr. played a large role in helping the Missouri Tigers to an 11-win season. After finishing 27th in opponent passing yards allowed, Detroit’s secondary needs Rakestraw’s physicality. His undersized frame shouldn’t fool you. His 32-inch arm length came in handy after allowing 18 receptions on 28 targets. What he lacked in interceptions, he makes up for in-man coverage and has quality anticipation to knock passes loose. While he suffered a torn ACL in 2021, he played 22 games the past two seasons. His physicality shined with 70 total tackles in the past two seasons. The Eli Drinkwitz pupil will benefit greatly from playing opposite Arnold in the future. Aaron Glenn will appreciate this young duo in his cornerback room this season. Grade: A-): https://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/amp/2024_nfl_draft_grade_did_the_detroit_lions_resolve_their_needs/s1_17198_40294378
USA Today NFL draft grades: Every pick from first round broken down (61. Detroit Lions: Ennis Rakestraw Jr., CB, Missouri - Grade: B+. Detroit follows up its first-round selection of Terrion Arnold with another aggressive cornerback. Few would have blinked had the Lions gone this route on Day 1, and Rakestraw's tackling should earn him the admiration of Dan Campbell. No more excuses for this secondary to underachieve.): https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/draft/2024/04/26/nfl-draft-grades-picks-2024-second-third-round/73376531007/
SI Lions Chirco (Currently, I'll give this pick a “B+” grade.): https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/grading-lions-pick-of-ennis-rakestraw
Lions wire (Grade: B+): https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2024/04/27/grading-the-lions-selection-of-ennis-rakestraw-in-second-round/
CBS NFL Draft grades (61. Lions: Ennis Rakestraw Jr., CB, Missouri - Grade: B. Chippy, in-your-face inside-out cornerback with good, not great athletic gifts. Plant-and-drive skills can be borderline special. Hit or miss as a tackler but the hits are huge thumping hits. Reasonable ball skills and will play the football aggressively. Size and length a concern.): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2024-nfl-draft-grades-second-round-bills-get-c-for-keon-coleman-eagles-earn-a-for-cooper-dejean/
Yahoo (29 (61). Detroit Lions: Ennis Rakestraw Jr., CB, Missouri. The Lions' run on cornerbacks continues with Rakestraw coming into the fold. Adding him with Terrion Arnold and Carlton Davis gives the Lions and lot of playmaking at cornerback. Rakestraw isn't the biggest or fastest guy, but he can play. Grade: B): https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-draft-2024-instant-grades-for-every-pick-in-round-2-013304201.html
FTW (61. Detroit Lions: Ennis Rakestraw Jr., Missouri CB. At a minimum, what you want in a cornerback is toughness and competitiveness. Even if they’re not the biggest or fastest player on the field, they will, at the very least, make their assignments earn every single inch. Rakestraw has both attributes in spades, as he plays a tenacious and relentless brand of football in coverage and run support. He is a coach’s dream, and he is the definition of a Dan Campbell-type of football player. The Lions definitely have a type. Grade: B): https://ftw.usatoday.com/lists/nfl-draft-tracker-grades-rounds-2-3
NFL.com (Day 2 draft picks - Missouri DB Ennis Rakestraw Jr. (No. 61 overall). Grade
B. Analysis: The Lions doubled down on cornerbacks, drafting Rakestraw after trading up for Terrion Arnold in Round 1. The former Missouri Tiger was a good value as a competitive corner who can take on receivers down the sideline and over the middle. However, they passed on edge rusher Adisa Isaac, receiver Roman Wilson and others that could have helped in different areas of the roster. Detroit used the third-round pick received from Minnesota in the 2022 trade of tight end T.J. Hockenson in the trade to land Arnold.): https://www.nfl.com/news/2024-nfl-draft-day-2-quick-snap-grades-for-all-32-teams
SN Moraitis (GRADE: B): https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl/news/detroit-lions-2024-nfl-draft-grade-ennis-rakestraw/99c3b391ca1eb55d9b4aa460
SI All Lions LAMORANDIER (Maybe it was a bit of surprise drafting back-to-back cornerbacks. Considering another corner was the Lions' best player available, though, it never hurts to add youth or depth at a weaker spot on the team. Before the combine, Rakestraw had some first-round buzz. After average testing with a slender frame, the hype cooled down, and he was solidified more in the range of a second-round selection. Despite his size, he plays much bigger and looks for contact. I don’t think it’s a mistake that Holmes grabbed the top two run-defense-graded cornerbacks in this draft class – Rakestraw finished only behind Arnold in that department. Rakestraw has more similarities to Arnold, as well. The Missouri product has excellent burst, fluidity, inside-out versatility and route recognition. Neither player has great timed deep speed. Despite impressive 10-yard splits, the "flying 20" – the last 20 yards of a 40-yard dash or usually “top-end” speed – was well below average. In coverage, Rakestraw can play in multiple schemes. However, his zone-coverage grade of 85.2, compared to his man coverage grade of 56.6 in 2023, was quite the disparity. For ball production, Rakestraw gets his hands on plenty of passes, yet only recorded one interception in his college career. There is an injury history associated with Rakestraw, too, as he tore his ACL in 2021 and dealt with a groin injury last season that supposedly hampered him during the draft process. Maybe the lingering injury played a part in the 4.51 40-yard dash at the combine. Still, he then ran a 4.56-second 40 at his pro day a few weeks later. Overall, Rakestraw’s intangibles and on-field aggressiveness make him a unique talent. Grade: B): https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/detroit-lions-2024-nfl-draft-grades
PFN (Round 2, Pick 61 Ennis Rakestraw, CB, Missouri -Grade: C+): https://www.profootballnetwork.com/overall-nfl-draft-grades-2024/
PFF (R2 (61) DETROIT LIONS: CB ENNIS RAKESTRAW JR., MISSOURI - Pick Grade: Very Good. The Lions continue to rebuild a defense that ranked 30th in coverage grade in 2023. Rakestraw, the 46th-ranked player on the PFF big board, is a physical cornerback who excels in zone coverage. He posted an 85.2 PFF zone coverage grade in 2023. The Lions have completely revamped their cornerback room in just one offseason.): https://www.pff.com/news/draft-2024-nfl-draft-grades-for-each-day-2-selection
Grade Tally:
A+: 2
A: 2
A-: 2
B+: 3
B: 6
C+: 1
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SI Lions (Round 2, Pick 61 - Ennis Rakestraw Jr., CB, Missouri. How he fits: The decision to double up on cornerback is an interesting one this early in the Draft. The Lions added Davis and Robertson early in the offseason, then drafted Arnold in round one. However, Rakestraw fits the team's culture as another tough, physical defender who is unafraid to deliver a big hit in the run game. Rakestraw posted subpar testing numbers at the NFL Scouting Combine, but his tape clearly outweighs what those measurables showed. Though small for the position, he plays with a mean streak. When he starts: The cornerback room is shaping up to be full of competition, as it has been completely overhauled. Like Arnold, he's comfortable playing man-to-man coverage and shouldn't have any issues adapting to the Lions' style. He has the ability to compete for a starting job right away.): https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/evaluating-detroit-lions-draft-picks
NFL.com Edholm (61. Ennis Rakestraw Jr.: I mocked Rakestraw to the Lions in Round 1 back in late January, and here he lands in Detroit a round later. Rakestraw's injury and pre-draft process complicated his scouting report and pushed him behind a few other corners, but he has the mentality to fit in very well in Detroit. He's a willing tackler and a talented man-cover guy -- even if Rakestraw lacks elite length or athleticism.): https://www.nfl.com/news/2024-nfl-draft-pick-by-pick-analysis-for-day-2
ESPN (Round 2: No. 61: Ennis Rakestraw Jr., CB, Missouri. My take: Detroit again added to its secondary. This is the first time in the common draft era the Lions have taken a DB with each of their first two picks, after trading up to get Arnold at No. 24. Detroit's defense allowed 28 passing TDs last year, which was the sixth worst in the league and marked the fifth straight season they ranked in the bottom 10 in passing TDs allowed. Rakestraw allowed one TD all season but was only targeted on 8% of his coverage snaps. Is this pick for depth or does it fill a hole?: This pick is definitely to fill a hole. Rakestraw will have an opportunity to compete right away for a key role on a unit that allowed 7.8 yards per pass attempt last season. Only the Bengals (8.1) were worse. Rakestraw allowed 13 completions on 22 attempts this season when targeted, but only five of those attempts were on passes thrown 15 or more yards downfield. What's next: Now that the secondary has been addressed, Detroit is in position to go after the best player available. Holmes couldn't go wrong with adding another big-bodied receiver to help the offense or another defensive lineman.): https://www.espn.com/nfl/draft2024/story/_/id/39962918/detroit-lions-nfl-draft-picks-2024-selection-analysis-depth-chart
Trackers:
ESPN (Ennis Rakestraw Jr.: Pre-Draft Analysis - Rakestraw has the length and start-stop ability to smother receivers underneath. He mirrors the receiver's release and is smooth turning and running. He is instinctive, reading the receiver and matching routes in man coverage. And Rakestraw sorts out routes, splits high-low route combinations and tracks the ball well in zone looks. He's a tough run-defender who fights off blocks, tackles well and flashes good stopping power. -- Steve Muench. Matt Miller's pro comp: Tre'Davious White. Post-Draft Analysis - Detroit ranked 27th in passing yards allowed per game (247.4) last season. General manager Brad Holmes is doing an outstanding job of addressing one of the Lions' most pressing needs by getting two starting corners with his first two picks. Selecting Terrion Arnold at No. 24 is a steal and I feel the same about getting Rakestraw Jr. this late in the second. -- Muench): https://www.espn.com/nfl/draft/rounds
USA Today (61. Detroit Lions: CB Ennis Rakestraw Jr., Missouri: The NFC North champs continue to load up at corner after drafting Terrion Arnold on Thursday and trading for Carlton Davis III. Rakestraw's physical style should play in Motown.): https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/draft/2024/04/26/nfl-draft-picks-tracker-live-analysis-2024/73378233007/
Pride of Detroit (No. 61: Ennis Rakestraw, CB, Missouri: I guess Lions general manager Brad Holmes was serious about upgrading the cornerback room. Rakestraw is a press man cover corner that can be sticky in man coverage while also bringing the wood in run support. There are some questions about his long speed but he is incredibly physical in all phases of the game and has plenty of grit to match the mentality of the franchise.): https://www.prideofdetroit.com/2024/4/25/24138116/detroit-lions-2024-nfl-draft-picks-tracker-results-full-coverage
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