NFL Analyst Reveals Where Mizzou's Ennis Rakestraw Jr. Would be 'Perfect Fit'

One NFL analyst believes Missouri cornerback Ennis Rakestraw Jr.'s toughness and competitiveness will mesh extremely well with this NFL team.

After a historic 11-2 season, several Missouri football players have gained NFL Draft attention as eight of them are hoping to hear their names called on April 25-27.

One player that's stood out as potentially the first Tiger to be selected is cornerback, Ennis Rakestraw Jr., who missed three games in his senior season but still logged 35 tackles. However, NFL scouts think highly of the cornerback due to his impressive junior year when he logged 12 pass breakups. Rakestraw has been considered a first or second-round pick in practically every mock draft as opposing receivers near him weren't targeted often.

NFL Network analyst Bucky Brooks explained on Tuesday that Rakestraw's mental and physical abilities would mesh well with the reigning NFC Champion runner-up Detroit Lions.

"When we talk about what the Lions have fallen in love with, they love toughness," Brooks said. "Tough guys that are feisty and competitive. There's not a more competitive corner (in this draft class) than Rakestraw. You see the toughness in tackles, he engages. He brings the energy and loves to go nose-to-nose."

Brooks went more specific by stating which members of the Lions would most appreciate Rakestraw as a member of the team.

"I know my guy (defensive coordinator) Aaron Glenn will love that, he wants to put his corners nose-to-nose," Brooks said. "But it's the competitiveness that (head coach) Dan Campbell and the Lions have been able to do in terms of making themselves a playoff contender."

"I'm talking about the competitiveness that Rakestraw brings and this is a guy that would be a perfect fit. If he's there at the bottom of the first round, hand the card in with Mizzou guy on it."

Nevertheless, this isn't the first time that Rakestraw has stood out to the experts as ESPN NFL Draft analyst Matt Miller had some bold claims for him back in February.

“Rakestraw is my guy," Miller said. "That is my draft crush this year. I think all of us that do this for a living, we get a guy or two that you kind of light up when you get a chance to talk about them."

Just like Brooks, Miller also projected Detroit grabbing him at No. 29 if he's still on the board due to his toughness, physicality and tackling ability.