Detroit Lions 2026 Player Profile: Ennis Rakestraw Jr
· Yahoo Sports
With training camp just days away, I’m quickly wrapping up my 2026 Detroit Lions player profile series. The next player in the spotlight is one of the biggest mysteries on the roster: cornerback Ennis Rakestraw Jr. Entering his third NFL season after appearing in just eight career games, this year could determine whether he develops into a key piece of Detroit’s secondary or becomes a disappointing early draft pick.
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One of the biggest storylines entering camp is who will earn the starting cornerback job opposite DJ Reed. Reed has one spot locked down, but the other remains wide open. The competition is expected to come down to Rakestraw, veteran Rock Ya-Sin, and fifth-round rookie Keith Abney.
Rakestraw is arguably the most intriguing candidate, not necessarily because he is the most accomplished, but because the Lions still don’t know exactly what they have. Detroit selected him in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft believing he had the talent to become a long-term starter. Unfortunately, injuries have slowed his development. After missing most of his rookie year and all of last season with a shoulder injury, Rakestraw has totaled just six tackles across eight career games.
His college résumé at Missouri, however, gives plenty of reason for optimism. Over 36 games with the Tigers, Rakestraw established himself as one of the SEC’s top defensive backs. While he recorded only one interception, he consistently disrupted opposing passing attacks, finishing his career with 24 pass breakups, including 12 during his junior season. He also added eight tackles for loss and forced three fumbles, showcasing his physical style of play.
Pro Football Focus grades also showed steady improvement throughout his collegiate career. As a freshman, Rakestraw earned a 63.1 overall defensive grade before taking a small step backward during his sophomore season. His breakout came as a junior when he posted a 77.0 overall grade and a 78.2 coverage grade while recording 10 pass breakups and his lone interception. He followed that with his best season as a senior, finishing with an 80.7 overall grade, an outstanding 89.0 run-defense grade, and a 78.7 coverage grade while allowing just 197 receiving yards.
That year-over-year development is exactly what Detroit hopes continues at the NFL level.
During offseason workouts, Rakestraw split first-team reps with Rock Ya-Sin, an indication that the coaching staff wants to give him every opportunity to win the job. He also reportedly added muscle during the offseason, and head coach Dan Campbell praised his physical development, saying he believes Rakestraw’s body is finally built to withstand the demands of an NFL season.
The Lions know what they have in Ya-Sin: an experienced veteran capable of filling in when needed. Rakestraw, on the other hand, represents the unknown. His ceiling is significantly higher, which makes him one of the most important players to watch throughout training camp.
If he can finally stay healthy, Detroit may discover that its long-term answer at cornerback has been on the roster all along. Rakestraw has all the tools to seize the opportunity, and this feels like a make-or-break season. By the middle of the year, don’t be surprised if he has earned the starting role opposite Reed and begins showing why the Lions invested a second-round pick in him.