Analysis: Why Did Seahawks Roll Dice on CB Terrion Arnold Amid Legal Issues?
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Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold (6) celebrates an interception in the second quarter against the Minnesota Vikings at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: David Reginek-Imagn Images [/caption]
RENTON, Wash. - Mere moments after completing a competitive padded practice on August 10, Mike Macdonald knew questions would be coming his way on the Seattle Seahawks reported interest in embattled cornerback Terrion Arnold.
Before the reporter who first broached the topic could even finish asking about the former Lions first round pick, mistakingly calling Arnold “Terrion Austin” instead, Macdonald politely corrected him with a smile and quickly addressed the issue at hand. Just one day after the Seahawks brought him in for a visit, the coach confirmed the tryout, dishing out an answer that opened many eyes and indicated that the franchise had more than just cursory interest in the player.
“It’s enough right now,” Macdonald said. “We had him in for a great visit, a great tryout. It’s a situation where there’s other things surrounding it as well, we’re aware of that. We’re working through the situation right now. I enjoyed meeting him and he enjoyed being here, we’ll see how it goes.”
Only two days later, as reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Seahawks and Arnold have a deal in place with the third-year cornerback expected to sign and join his new team in coming days. Despite being recently charged with eight felonies stemming from an incident in Florida back in February, including four counts of kidnapping and four counts of robbery, as general manager John Schneider hinted on the second episode of Hard Knocks, the expectation within the building is that the former Alabama standout will be able to play in the preseason.
As expected anytime a team signs a player carrying legal baggage as Arnold is, the signing understandably has drawn ire from some fans and created plenty of questions. Why would the Seahawks want to bring such a situation into their locker room? Is this player even worth the possible problems that come with his arrival?
Macdonald, to an extent, addressed that potential elephant in the room on Monday, acknowledging that the organization continued to do their due diligence on Arnold to make the right, informed decision. In the event that a signing did eventually happen, he also expressed confidence in the team’s established culture being able to provide the strong foundation for a player who has made mistakes in the past to rebound and thrive in the Pacific Northwest.
Additionally, Macdonald cited people in the building such as defensive pass game coordinator Karl Scott, who helped recruit Arnold to Alabama while working under former coach Nick Saban in Tuscaloosa, as valuable resources in the investigative process looking into the player and his potential fit in Seattle. On Hard Knocks, Schneider also referenced Jalen Milroe, a close friend of Arnold’s, acknowledging the second-year quarterback gave a strong endorsement for the player and the person.
“There’s a lot of people in Terrion’s corner that we respect in terms of the type of guy he is,” Macdonald explained. “We’re going to work through all of that, and I trust our people to make the best decision for us. We also think this is a great place to come work too and that people can be the best version of themselves if given the opportunity. Works both ways.”
Talent always creates extra opportunities and while Arnold’s production in two seasons in Detroit wasn’t elite by any means, including allowing four touchdowns in coverage as a rookie two years ago, he came into the NFL viewed by many scouts as the best cornerback in the 2024 class. Possessing first round-caliber skills and still just 23 years old, it shouldn’t have come as a surprise that Seattle and several other teams brought him in for visits, even with the legal cloud hovering over his head and a looming October 5 court date.
In regard to Arnold, Schneider and Macdonald leaned on all of the connections at their disposal as they dug into his complicated circumstances. Based on how swiftly they decided to move forward with signing him, it can be surmised that they were satisfied with the information provided to them on his impending legal proceedings and prospective availability on the field. The fact three other teams had him in for visits in the past week and change also suggests that to be the case.
Of course, even if the Seahawks have optimism that Arnold will be cleared of all charges, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell could still place him on the exempt list, which would prevent him from being able to practice or suit up in games until removed. And in the event that some or all of the charges stick, his NFL career will be the least of his concerns, and that result would open the door to deserved scrutiny for the team’s brain trust deciding to take a chance on him.
As Macdonald noted on Monday, “anything’s on the table” right now as the process plays out.
Possible character concerns and/or future league discipline aside, from a pure football standpoint, Seattle’s interest makes a great deal of sense. Schneider and the scouting department had high marks on Arnold coming out of Alabama, viewing him as a first round prospect, and if not for investing a top-five pick in Devon Witherspoon one year earlier and defensive tackle Byron Murphy II falling into their lap, they may have considered picking him at No. 16 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Looking at the current state of the roster, the Seahawks have a quality starting cornerback tandem in Witherspoon and Josh Jobe, who the team handed a three-year, $24 million contract in March. However, behind those two, following the departure of Riq Woolen in free agency, third-year cornerback Nehemiah Pritchett has started a single game in his career, journeyman Noah Igbinoghene has primarily been a rotational defender and special teams player with just one season starting more than two games, and third round pick Julian Neal has missed most of training camp with a knee injury.
While Macdonald spoke highly of that cornerback group on Monday, with or without Arnold coming into the fold, choosing to sign the player makes it clear that Seattle felt it needed to, at minimum, bolster the competition at the position. And for pennies on the dollar, if the former All-American is cleared to play all or most of the season and takes to the coaching after allowing just a 56% completion rate in coverage last season in Detroit, the untapped upside is undeniably higher than anyone else on the roster away from Witherspoon.
With Schneider at the helm, the Seahawks have taken chances on players with character questions in the past, never wanting to leave a stone unturned and actively staying involved in everything. Understandably, such a mindset doesn’t sit well with everyone who roots for the team, and that approach does carry some inherent risk, especially with a player facing potential life in prison with the assortment of charges levied against him like Arnold does. That leaves things ripe for unwanted distractions.
But in defense of the reigning Executive of the Year, with a few obvious exceptions - Malik McDowell, anyone? - to the rule, most of those moves ended up paying off for the organization. As just two examples, Bruce Irvin and Frank Clark came into the league as high draft picks with previous criminal charges on their record and both emerged as leaders and quality contributors on and off the field.
Whether you agree with the move to sign Arnold or not, and there’s certainly sound arguments against doing so, that’s where the faith in the culture Macdonald has built as head coach comes into play.
Considering that track record and the fact Schneider and Macdonald just brought the second Lombardi Trophy to the Emerald City, it can be argued they have earned the benefit of the doubt when it comes to tackling such difficult roster decisions. Both men understand what is at stake opening the doors to the facility and bringing Arnold in without knowing what the future holds regarding his legal issues, trusting their veteran leaders to keep the locker room united no matter what.
