Ennis Rakestraw rookie contract figures with Detroit Lions revealed after NFL Draft

For the second time in this year’s NFL Draft, the Detroit Lions took a cornerback. In the second round, they landed Ennis Rakestraw out of Missouri, and his rookie contract figures have been revealed.

Rakestraw will sign a four-year contract with Detroit worth $ million, according to Spotrac. He will also receive a $ million signing bonus.

Rakestraw joins former Alabama cornerback Terrion Arnold in Detroit as the Lions add to their secondary after a huge year in 2023.

Rakestraw is coming off two impressive seasons at Mizzou, totaling 35 tackles in 2022 and 2023. He also showed he can keep pace with some of the top receivers in the SEC, which bodes well for his chances of success at the NFL level, as well.

All told, over his four seasons in Columbia, Rakestraw compiled 107 total tackles, 24 pass breakups, one sack, a forced fumble and one interception.

Rakestraw played high school football at Duncanville (TX), where he was a three-star recruit. He was the No. 927 overall player from the 2020 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

What NFL Draft analysts are saying about Ennis Rakestraw

In his scouting report, NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein said Rakestraw’s strength and physicality will be appealing at the next level. His lack of interceptions could cause some concern, though, but Zierlein said Rakestraw could play his way into a starting role at some point down the road.

“Rakestraw plays the game with good physicality and a competitive tilt that defensive back coaches will enjoy,” Zierlein wrote. “He’s strong but not as big or fast as teams usually like when picking within the first three rounds of the draft. However, he’s hard-nosed in press and has the body control and anticipation to play a sticky brand of man coverage over the first two levels. He’s quicker than fast and does a nice job of breaking quickly on throws in front of him with well-timed challenges to knock the ball free.

“He intercepted only one pass during his college career, which could be a concern, but his willingness and toughness in run support work in his favor. Rakestraw could become a good backup with eventual starter potential in the right scheme.”