By Blessing 
Lions Must Be Patient With Young Defender Heading Into 2025 Season
When the Detroit Lions selected Ennis Rakestraw Jr. in last year’s draft, expectations were high that the rookie cornerback would make an early impact. But as it often goes in the NFL, injuries had other plans. Heading into his second year, patience may be the key to unlocking his potential.
In the 2024 NFL Draft, Detroit zeroed in on boosting their secondary. They used their first-round pick, No. 24 overall, on Alabama’s Terrion Arnold—a confident, high-upside cornerback. But they weren’t done. Later in the draft, they grabbed Missouri’s Ennis Rakestraw Jr., doubling down on defensive back talent. With Arnold, Rakestraw, and veteran Carlton Davis III in the mix, the Lions were gearing up for another deep playoff push.
Unfortunately for Rakestraw, his rookie season didn’t quite take off.
Coming out of college, he was still recovering from sports hernia surgery, which sidelined him for most of the team’s spring activities. Then came an untimely ankle injury during training camp. These setbacks pushed him down the depth chart and limited his reps.
Rakestraw managed to suit up for the regular season opener, logging just 14 snaps—mostly on special teams. But there was a plan to increase his involvement quickly. He was slated to start in Week 2 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, playing the nickel corner role. However, misfortune struck again.
“A lot of people didn’t know that,” Rakestraw told DetroitLions.com in January. “I got hurt in warm-ups. So, it was kind of setback and step back.”
That injury—a hamstring tweak—came at the worst time. With Rakestraw sidelined, Amik Robertson stepped in and made the most of the opportunity, ultimately locking down the job. Rakestraw was placed on injured reserve by late November, closing the door on a rookie season filled with “what ifs.” He appeared in just eight games and never got a real shot to show what he could do on defense.
Still, it’s far too early to write him off. Rakestraw showed plenty of promise during his time at Missouri, where he played four seasons and racked up 107 total tackles, 24 pass breakups, nine tackles for loss, three forced fumbles, an interception, and a fumble recovery. His college production, physical style, and nose for the ball are reasons for optimism.
Head coach Dan Campbell hasn’t lost faith. During the NFL Annual Meeting, he expressed confidence that Rakestraw will be in the thick of the competition this offseason.
“I would anticipate this guy takes another step up, man,” Campbell said via Tim Twentyman. “We’re not down on him. We’re not disappointed. We expect him to go in there and compete, man. There is nothing set in stone. You draft guys where you do and you sign guys according to what you think they’re going to be for you, but the best man is going to play. So, he’s very much in that mix.”
If Rakestraw can stay healthy, he has a legitimate chance to win the nickel corner job over both Robertson and Avonte Maddox. And with Arnold and new free-agent signee D.J. Reed likely starting on the outside, a healthy and confident Rakestraw could round out one of the most competitive secondaries the Lions have had in years.
The tools are there—physicality, solid man coverage skills, and the willingness to come downhill and make tackles. The only missing ingredient has been availability. In Year 2, Detroit hopes to finally see the version of Ennis Rakestraw Jr. they envisioned on draft day.