Raiders couldn’t risk losing out on ‘tough as nails’ Damon Arnette in NFL Draft

By Case Keefer (contact)

Published Thursday, April 23, 2020 | 7:40 p.m.

Updated Thursday, April 23, 2020 | 11:45 p.m.

If speed is the one-word summary to explain the Raiders’ first pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, then grit is the best descriptor for their second selection.

Las Vegas felt compelled to choose Ohio State cornerback Damon Arnette with the No. 19 overall pick for more than just the way he dominated on the field with the Buckeyes in his senior season. Raiders general manager Mike Mayock found it all the more impressive that Arnette thrived despite a broken wrist suffered in preseason camp.  

“He’s tough as nails,” Mayock said. “When you talk about competitors, he played most of the season with a cast on his arm.”

Arnette, a 6-foot, 194-pound, 22-year-old joined Alabama receiver Henry Ruggs III to form the inaugural first-round draft class of the Las Vegas Raiders on Thursday night. Only seven picks separated the two future local teammates, but there was a much wider gap in terms of fanfare and perception.

Arnette was not expected to go in the first round. He was one of the only players taken in the initial 32 picks whom the NFL did not send a camera to set up in his living room so he could be included on the live broadcast.

“Just always being looked at as the underdog and always getting the short end of the stick in my athletic career,” Arnette said when asked about his toughness. “Like when y’all asked me, ‘Are you surprised that you went in the first round?’ I’m not. Certain people might be surprised because I’m always the underdog, but I know what I become when I step out there on the field regardless of what someone says about it.”

The Raiders share the same confidence in Arnette’s game, made evident by taking him significantly above his predicted range. Some analysts had Arnette outside of the top 10 cornerbacks in the draft, but Las Vegas made him the fourth pick at his position.

Mayock said the Raiders fielded, but did not initiate, calls about trading down and acquiring more picks at No. 19. They turned down the interest because Arnette was their target.

“Did I think we could move down and maybe still get him,” Mayock asked. “Maybe, but we didn’t want to lose him.”

Mayock went on to rave about Arnette’s experience. The Fort Lauderdale, Fla. native, who graduated from national football power St. Thomas Aquinas High School, started three years at Ohio State, won three Big Ten Conference championships and played in two College Football Playoffs.

Some of Arnette’s NFL Draft Combine numbers were considered a disappointment — notably his 4.56 40-yard dash time — but there were fewer red marks on his game film. He never gave up more than one touchdown in a season at Ohio State, according to Pro Football Focus.

With Arnette alongside Jeff Okudah, the No. 3 overall selection to the Detroit Lions, Ohio State rated second in the nation last year in giving up 5.6 yards per pass attempt.

“I’m a physical corner, competitive corner, a dog, all of the above,” Arnette said. “I feel like the Raiders, we’re going to go and do the same thing. Go out there real fast, hit hard and execute. That’s the type of football player I am.”

Mayock said the Raiders did “an awful lot of work” on Arnette, which included a visit to Ohio State during the season. Arnette kept his conversation with Mayock and Raiders coach Jon Gruden brief on draft night and wrapped it up by saying, “it’s time to go now.”

That’s the kind of attitude that drew the Raiders to Arnette. That’s the kind of attitude that convinced Mayock that the Raiders weren’t taking him too early.

“We feel like this is one of the most competitive players in the entire draft,” Mayock said. “We don’t feel like it was a reach.”

Case Keefer can be reached at 702-948-2790 or [email protected]. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.