I gotta say, it’s good to see Damon Arnette get another shot in the NFL. The former Raiders first round pick signed on with the Houston Roughnecks of the UFL last year and things went well enough, the NFL’s Houston Texans have signed him to a contract.
Arnette was a surprise pick by the Raiders at 19 overall in the 2020. He came to Las Vegas with plenty of red flags and run-ins with the law. Those issues continued when he joined the team and ultimately led to Arnette being released two games into his second season. Then GM Mike Mayock admitted he saw all the red flags before the Raiders drafted Arnette, essentially making it clear he was opposed to the selection in round one but was overruled by Jon Gruden.
Arnette clearly was talented, but was also dealing with some mental issues that were not being properly addressed.
Arnette has several traffic incidents in his short time in Las Vegas, including crashing into a woman’s car while traveling 65 miles per hour and severely injuring her. The final straw was the young DB posting a video on social media brandishing a firearm and threatening someone who he had apparently said something about him online.
After his release the Dolphins and Chiefs both gave him a look. A week into his time with the Chiefs was a arrested agan, this time on charges of assault with a deadly weapon, carrying a concealed weapon without a permit, and two counts of possession of controlled substances.
He would be arrested again later that year after twice being pulled over while driving with a suspended license. And while he would see his legal troubles play out over the next year or so, he actually managed to not get arrested for about a year and a half before again being arrested and charged with possession of methamphetamine and unlawful carrying of a firearm.
It looks like he has finally turned himself around. Perhaps getting the help he needs. You hate to see a life wasted, let alone a talent.