Detroit Lions pick Missouri cornerback Ennis Rakestraw Jr. in second round of NFL draft

Dave Birkett, Detroit Free Press

The Detroit Lions picked Missouri cornerback Ennis Rakestraw Jr. in the second round of Friday's 2024 NFL draft in Detroit.

The Lions entered Friday with just one scheduled pick, No. 61 overall, after trading their third-rounder (No. 73) to the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday for the right to move up and draft Alabama cornerback Terrion Arnold. They now have drafted two corners, along with adding two in March, trading for Carlton Davis and signing Amik Robertson. They waived last season's starter, Cam Sutton, in mid-March after learning there was a warrant out for his arrest on one count of domestic battery by strangulation.

Rakestraw played in nine games with eight starts last season as a redshirt junior, totaling 35 tackles and four pass breakups. He missed four games with a groin injury. He started all 13 games in 2022, collecting 35 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, an interception and two forced fumbles.

INSTANT GRADE: Lions' double down at cornerback with Missouri's Ennis Rakestraw Jr. a great move

He tore his ACL in the 2021 season after playing in four games.

With no third- or fourth-round pick, which the Lions sent to the Minnesota Vikings as part of the 2022 T.J. Hockenson deal, the Lions could be done for the night.

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Missouri Tigers defensive back Ennis Rakestraw Jr. celebrates against the Vanderbilt Commodores after a tackle during the 2022 season.
Missouri Tigers defensive back Ennis Rakestraw Jr. celebrates against the Vanderbilt Commodores after a tackle during the 2022 season.

They have four picks Saturday on Day 3: No. 164 in the fifth round, Nos. 201 and 205 in Round 6, and No. 249 in the seventh round.

The Lions added Arnold, one of the two best cornerbacks in the draft and a potential starter for their secondary on Day 1, and on Friday got more help for their defense with Rakestraw.

ANALYSIS: Lions keep adding Alabama football flavor to organization. It's not by accident.

Though they have one of the best rosters in the NFL, the Lions still have depth needs at wide receiver, offensive line, defensive line and safety.

This breaking news story will be updated.

Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on X and Instagram at @davebirkett.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Lions pick Missouri CB Ennis Rakestraw Jr. in Round 2 of draft

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