Lions take Missouri CB Rakestraw Jr. in 2nd round
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 thirdrounder (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, 41⁄2 tackles for loss, an interception and two forced fumbles.
He tore his ACL in the 2021 season after playing in four games.
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.
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.
Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com . Follow him on X and Instagram at @davebirkett.