Raiders Select Damon Arnette With No. 19 Pick in NFL Draft

The Las Vegas Raiders addressed their secondary Thursday, drafting Ohio State corner Damon Arnette.

The Raiders selected CB Damon Arnette with the 19th pick of the 2020 NFL Draft. Arnette grew up in Florida and went to school at St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Widely considered a three-star recruit, Arnette helped the Raiders win the 2016 FHSAA State Championship during his senior season. After originally committing to South Carolina, Arnette changed his mind and decided to attend Ohio State instead.

Arnette (6-foot, 195 pounds) is not necessarily the biggest of cornerbacks or the longest in terms of wingspan. He does however have a good knack for the ball; his positional awareness is solid and he performs well in press coverage. He plays a bit stiff and is a tweener in terms of where he projects (in the slot or outside). He will likely start on the outside at the NFL level. Arnette is a good open field tackler who is willing to chip in on run support.

While he is a physical corner, Arnette’s athleticism is sort of average so it is paramount that he wins at the line of scrimmage with his technique and hands. Arnette loves disrupting receivers’ initial movements and altering their routes. His body and play style are both NFL-ready, giving him a high floor as a future starting cornerback.

Here’s why SI’s Kevin Hanson ranked Arnette as the No. 46 overall player on his big board:

If Shaun Wade hadn’t opted to return to Columbus, the Buckeyes could have had three corners in my top-50. A three-year starter at Ohio State, Arnette has good size and athleticism and benefited from returning to school another season with improved play.

2019 stats (Senior; Alabama): 27 solo tackles, 35 total tackles, 1 INT, 1 FF, 1 TD (11 games)

2018 stats (Junior; Alabama: 31 solo tackles, 40 total tackles, 1 INT (13 games)

2017 stats (Sophomore; Alabama): 35 solo tackles, 44 total tackles, 2 INT, 1 FF (12 games)

2016 stats (Freshman; Alabama): 11 solo tackles, 21 total tackles, 1 INT (11 games)

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