Matt Miller on why Ennis Rakestraw is a sleeper pick in 2024 NFL Draft

The NFL Combine is underway in the final week of February. This gives some of the best athletes in college football an opportunity to showcase various levels of their athleticism to scout at the next level. And that is what Missouri Tigers corner Ennis Rakestraw intends to do as he is a part of the field of participants this year.

Rakestraw is widely considered to have all the skills and playmaking ability required to be a first round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. However, due to his injury history and coming off of a core muscle surgery, he is not viewed as a top corner prospect in the eyes of most. And that is why ESPN’s Matt Miller has him rated as one of the highest sleepers in this year’s draft.

“Ennis Rakestraw, someone who’s been slept on a little bit coming out of Missouri,” said Miller. “He wasn’t able to participate in the Senior Bowl because of a core muscle surgery. He’ll be working on here in Indy, I expect them to do very well. He’s a top-20 player on my board, compares very favorably to Tre’Davious White. He’s feisty and physical at the line of scrimmage, great in press coverage. Here’s my favorite stat. LSU threw at him one time last year – he didn’t let them complete a pas, they never went his way again. That prolific LSU offense stayed away from Rakestraw. So we know he is a talented player.”

Last season, Rakestraw was a problem for opposing offenses. He ended the year with 35 total tackles, 24 solo, and 1.5 tackles for loss in nine appearances. That came after a career year in 2022 in which he had 4.5 tackles for loss, 12 passes defended, and an interception to help anchor Missouri’s defense.

In their recent two-round mock draft, CBS Sports has Rakestraw going in the second round with the No. 50 overall pick to the Philadelphia Eagles, despite being considered a top 25 prospect in this year’s draft.

Miller believes that NFL franchises are fully aware of what Rakestraw is capable of and will not allow him to slip too far in the draft. Staying within the company, ESPN, Miller has the former Missouri corner remaining in the SEC footprint, as the second corner selected in the first round, heading to Jacksonville with the No. 17 pick. In comparison, Mel Kiper Jr.’s latest mock draft has Rakestraw just making the day one cut as the sixth and final cornerback selected in the first round with the No. 31 pick held by the San Fransisco 49ers.