Detroit Lions doubling down on cornerbacks with selection of Missouri's Ennis Rakestraw in the 2024 NFL Draft

The Detroit Lions are doubling down with cornerbacks as they have selected Missouri cornerback Ennis Rakestraw with the 61st pick. The Lions are seriously committed to fixing their cornerback problem this year. Not only did they get an absolute steal with Terrion Arnold in the first round, they then grab another one of the top […]

Mike Payton Detroit Lions Beat Writer
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Sep 17, 2022; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Missouri Tigers defensive back Ennis Rakestraw Jr. (2) celebrates after an interception against the Abilene Christian Wildcats during the second half at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium.
Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports

The Detroit Lions are doubling down with cornerbacks as they have selected Missouri cornerback Ennis Rakestraw with the 61st pick.



The Lions are seriously committed to fixing their cornerback problem this year. Not only did they get an absolute steal with Terrion Arnold in the first round, they then grab another one of the top cornerbacks in the NFL Draft in the second round. 

We talked yesterday about the Lions getting a lockdown corner in Arnold, they may have just grabbed a second one in Rakestraw. Last year opposing quarterbacks all but ran from the idea of throwing his way. He was targeted just 28 times in nine games. 

If you're looking for a ball hawk, Rakestraw is not that. He picked off one pass in three years at Missouri. What he can do is swat that ball away though. While he only had two this season, he had 10 in 2022 and that's one of the reasons teams avoided him in 2023. 

He also brings tackling to his game just like Arnold does. He had an 8.3 missed tackle percentage in 2023. That was one of the best missed tackle percentages in the country last season. 

Lions GM Brad Holmes talked a lot about how much he values tackling at the cornerback spot at the NFL Combine. The Lions doubled down with two guys that get stops when the ball carrier is in their area. What a crazy two days from the Lions.