Terrion Arnold was the Detroit Lions’ first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, selected 24th overall, after the team traded up from 29th to acquire him.
However, the Alabama cornerback says the Las Vegas Raiders almost picked him 13th overall. Appearing on “The Next Round” PodcastArnold said a Raiders coach told him the team was deciding between him and Georgia tight end Brock Bowers and that they ultimately made their decision by tossing a coin.
“(The Lions) knew there was a chance the Raiders would take me,” Arnold explained. “And actually, the Raiders coach called me after the draft. They told me we tossed a coin between you and Brock Bowers and we landed on him.”
After the Raiders passed on Arnold, the Lions tried to get a jump on the Jacksonville Jaguars, who had the 17th pick before trading to the Minnesota Vikings. Detroit couldn’t close a deal, but the Jaguars didn’t draft Arnold 23rd overall after being relegated. The Lions then made a trade with the Dallas Cowboys to move up and get their man.
I talk to @asaltantes head coach Antonio Pierce, and denied speaking to Terrion Arnold. “No calls and no coin toss.”
“As soon as the last two QBS came off the board. WE SAID BOWERS all the time.” -AP
He also said the Bowers pick was ready before the Raiders hit the clock.
-Ryan Clark (@Realrclark25) May 9, 2024
The Raiders deny Arnold’s version of events, saying no such conversation with the coaching staff ever took place. Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce he told ESPN’s Ryan Clark that there was “no call or coin toss.”
“As soon as the last two quarterbacks came off the board, we said Bowers the whole time,” Pierce added.
Raiders assistant general manager Champ Kelly also questioned Arnold’s story.
“Yes, I can’t confirm it at all. Terrion is a good player. I’m excited to watch his career and see him play.” Kelly told Vic Tafur of The Athletic. “But we drafted Brock and we’re excited to have him here. And I don’t think anyone else in our entire draft room felt otherwise.”
The Raiders probably don’t want any implication that they didn’t fully trust Bowers as their first-round pick, and any other NFL team would probably be similarly offended. It’s also very possible that whoever Arnold spoke to wasn’t literally talking about flipping a coin, but he took it that way. Either way, it’s a great story.
Whether Bowers or Arnold will become the best player in the NFL won’t be evident for a few years. Or maybe both players make their teams happy.