Terrion Arnold was the Detroit Lions’ first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, selected 24th overall after the team traded up from 29th overall to take him.
Still, the Alabama cornerback says he was almost drafted 13th overall by the Las Vegas Raiders. Appearing in “The Next Round” PodcastArnold said a Raiders coach told him the team was deciding between him and Georgia tight end Brock Bowers and ultimately made his choice by coin toss.
“[The Lions] I knew the Raiders, there was a possibility they would sign me,” Arnold explained. “And actually, the Raiders coach called me after the draft. They said, we flipped a coin between you and Brock Bowers and came down on him.”
After the Raiders passed Arnold, the Lions attempted to move ahead of the Jacksonville Jaguars, who had the No. 17 selection before trading to the Minnesota Vikings. Detroit couldn’t get a deal done, but the Jaguars didn’t pick Arnold at No. 23 after moving down. The Lions then made a trade with the Dallas Cowboys to move up to 24th (from 29th) and got their man.
I talked with @Raiders coach Antonio Pierce and denied having spoken to Terrion Arnold. “No phone calls and no coin flips.”
“As soon as the last two QBS came off the board. WE SAID BOWERS ALL THE TIME. -AP
He also said Bowers’ pick was ready before the Raiders got to the clock.
-Ryan Clark (@Realrclark25) May 9, 2024
However, the Raiders deny Arnold’s version of events, saying no such conversation with the coaching staff never took place. Raiders coach Antonio Pierce said Ryan Clark of ESPN there was “no roll call and no coin toss.”
“As soon as the last two QBs came off the board, we said Bowers all the time,” Pierce added.
Raiders assistant general manager Champ Kelly also disputed Arnold’s story.
“Yes, I can’t confirm that. Terrion is a good player. I’m excited to follow his career and watch him play.” Kelly told Vic Tafur of The Athletic. “But we drafted Brock and we’re excited to get him here. And I don’t think anyone else in our entire selection room felt any different.”
The Raiders likely don’t want any implications that they weren’t fully confident in Bowers as their first-round pick. Any other NFL team would probably be similarly offended. It’s also very possible that the person Arnold spoke to wasn’t literally talking about a coin toss, but he took it that way. And it makes a great story.
Whether Bowers or Arnold will become the best player in the NFL will be clear years from now. Or maybe both players make their teams happy.
