Name: Ennis Rakestraw Jr.
Position: CB
School: Missouri
Ht/Wt: 5-11, 183
40-yard dash: 4.44 seconds (pro day)
Bench: Did not bench
Vertical: Did not jump
Broad: 10-feet
3-cone: Did not run
20-yard shuttle: Did not run
View photos of NFL prospect Ennis Rakestraw Jr.
Missouri defensive back Ennis Rakestraw Jr. runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine, Friday, March 1, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Missouri's Ennis Rakestraw Jr., left, and Jayden Jernigan (0) celebrate a defensive stop against Vanderbilt in the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Missouri defensive back Ennis Rakestraw Jr. covers a play against Florida during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Florida wide receiver Xzavier Henderson fumbles the ball out of bounds as he is hit by Missouri defensive back Ennis Rakestraw Jr. during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Alabama wide receiver DeVonta Smith, right, is tackled by Missouri's Ennis Rakestraw Jr., left, during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 26, 2020, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
Missouri defensive back Ennis Rakestraw Jr., right, breaks up a would be touchdown pass intended for Florida wide receiver Ja'Quavion Fraziars (0) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Mississippi State running back Lee Witherspoon (22) is upended by Missouri defensive back Ennis Rakestraw Jr. (2) after a short gain during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Dec. 19, 2019, in Starkville, Miss. Mississippi State won 51-32. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
Kansas State wide receiver Kade Warner (85) is tackled by Missouri defensive back Ennis Rakestraw Jr. during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022, in Manhattan, Kan. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Tennessee wide receiver Ramel Keyton (80) tries to make a catch as he's defended by Missouri defensive back Ennis Rakestraw Jr. (2) during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 12, 2022, in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
Missouri defensive back Ennis Rakestraw Jr. (2) tries to stop Florida wide receiver Xzavier Henderson (3) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
How he fits: Rakestraw plays the cornerback position with a physicality and toughness Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn expects from the position. He's hard-nosed in press coverage and sticky in man coverage, and will come up and support the run.
Lions general manager Brad Holmes said at the Annual League Meetings last month he feels good about the cornerback spot after trading for Carlton Davis III, signing Amik Robertson in free agency, re-signing veteran Emmanuel Moseley and returning second-year player Brian Branch. Lions head coach Dan Campbell said he'd still like to add depth at the position. The team has since re-signed veteran Kindle Vildor.
Still, there's plenty of room for competition at cornerback with Khalil Dorsey, Steven Gilmore and Craig James also in the mix. Like edge rushers, teams can never have enough cornerbacks because of the high injury rate at the position.
Holmes has selected at least one cornerback in each of his previous three drafts as Lions GM.
Key observations: Rakestraw only intercepted one pass in college, which some teams will see as a concern. He allowed a total of 197 yards with just one touchdown against in nine games last season, per Pro Football Focus statistics.
What they had to say about him: "Turn on the 2023 Missouri tape and you'll see No. 2 as a feisty, physical cornerback who excelled at the line of scrimmage and wasn't afraid to mix it up in press coverage. Rakestraw had one interception in college, but he was rarely targeted -- he was thrown at just 22 times in nine games in 2023. Rakestraw's timing, aggressiveness and speed in the open field are outstanding." - Matt Miller, ESPN
View photos of the top cornerback prospects in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Missouri cornerback Kris Abrams-Draine (7) during an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023 in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/Colin E Braley)
Missouri defensive back Kris Abrams-Draine (7) takes up his position during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Tennessee Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023, in Columbia, Mo. Missouri won 36-7. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Alabama defensive back Terrion Arnold (3) defends Mississippi State wide receiver Jaden Walley (11) during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023, in Starkville, Miss. Alabama won 40-17. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
Alabama defensive back Terrion Arnold (3) intercepts the ball on an NCAA college football game's final play, sealing a win over Auburn, Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023, in Auburn, Ala. Alabama defensive back Malachi Moore (13) looks on. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
Iowa defensive back Cooper DeJean (3) returns a punt during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Western Michigan, Sept. 16, 2023, in Iowa City, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, file)
Iowa defensive back Cooper DeJean (3) gets set for a play during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Iowa State, Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023, in Ames, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, File)
Notre Dame's Cam Hart (5) defends during an NCAA college football game in Durham, N.C., Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown)
Notre Dame's Cam Hart (5) waits for the snap against North Carolina State during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023. (AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker)
Boston College defensive back Elijah Jones (1) celebrates his interception against Georgia Tech during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023, in Atlanta. Boston College won 38-23. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Boston College defensive back Elijah Jones runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine, Friday, March 1, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Georgia defensive back Kamari Lassiter (3) plays against Vanderbilt in the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Georgia defensive back Kamari Lassiter runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine, Friday, March 1, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Alabama defensive back Kool-Aid McKinstry (1) awaits the snap during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Lexington, Ky., Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023. (AP Photo/Michelle Haas Hutchins)
Alabama defensive back Kool-Aid McKinstry (1) sets up for a play against Mississippi during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt, File)
Rutgers defensive back Max Melton plays against Michigan in the first half of an NCAA college football game in Ann Arbor, Mich., Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Rutgers defensive back Max Melton runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine, Friday, March 1, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Toledo cornerback Quinyon Mitchell (27) during an NCAA football game on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023, in Muncie, Ind. (AP Photo/Doug McSchooler)
Toledo defensive back Quinyon Mitchell runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine, Friday, March 1, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Kentucky defensive back Andru Phillips (23) tackles Akron wide receiver Jasaiah Gathings (14) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Lexington, Ky., Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Michelle Haas Hutchins)
Kentucky defensive back Andru Phillips (23) plays against Vanderbilt in the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Missouri defensive back Ennis Rakestraw Jr. runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine, Friday, March 1, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Missouri's Ennis Rakestraw Jr., left, and Jayden Jernigan (0) celebrate a defensive stop against Vanderbilt in the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Iowa State defensive back T.J. Tampa (2) gets set for a play during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Oklahoma State, Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023, in Ames, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Iowa State defensive back T.J. Tampa (2) runs up field during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Iowa, Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023, in Ames, Iowa. Iowa won 20-13. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Clemson cornerback Nate Wiggins (2) defends against Georgia Tech wide receiver Eric Singleton Jr. (13) during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023, in Clemson, S.C. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)
Clemson cornerback Nate Wiggins (2) looks on against Florida State during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023, in Clemson, S.C. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)
How he stacks up: Draft analysts are really split when it comes to Rakestraw.
Miller has him as his No. 20 overall prospect in this draft.
The Athletic's Dane Brugler lists Rakestraw as his No. 48 prospect in his ranking of the Top 100 players available in this class. NFL media analyst Daniel Jeremiah released his latest Top 50 players in the 2024 NFL Draft and Rakestraw came in at No. 28, saying "his energy is palpable through the screen."
ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. lists Rakestraw as the No. 8 cornerback prospect in the class behind Quinyon Mitchell (Toledo), Terrion Arnold (Alabama), Cooper DeJean (Iowa), Nate Wiggins (Clemson), T.J. Tampa (Iowa State), Kool-Aid McKinstry (Alabama) and Kamari Lassiter (Georgia).
ESPN insider Field Yates just updated his Top 50 players in the draft last week and Rakestraw comes in at No. 30. ESPN analyst Jordan Reid has him at No. 40.
NFL.com analyst Bucky Brooks lists Rakestraw as someone to "keep an eye on" at the cornerback position outside of the Top 5 at the position.
What he had to say: "My physicality and my tackling and my press man at the line of scrimmage," Rakestraw said at the Combine when asked what his best skill sets are. "Physicality and tackling. Actually, for me, all that goes into accountability. My teammates can count on me to be there in the right position at the right time. That's how I pride myself and measure myself as a (corner).
