Las Vegas Raiders Rookie Roles: Cornerback Damon Arnette
Las Vegas Raiders Rookie Roles: Cornerback Damon Arnette
Role as a Rookie
The Raiders needs at cornerback were so great that they knew they could not only address them in the draft so they turned to free agency as well. They originally brought in Eli Apple from the New Orleans Saints but the sides could not agree on terms and they brought in another veteran in Prince Amukamara from the Chicago Bears.
Amukamara is one of the elder statesman in the defensive backfield and as such the Raiders will likely lean on him to start initially opposite Mullen. Perhaps if this was a traditional offseason that included the usual four preseason games Arnette could play his way in to the starting role before Week 1 but nothing about this summer is business as usual.
As such the Raiders will likely go the patient route with Arnette and allow him to come along slowly and eventually grow in to the starting role. We can expect him to come in as needed when teams go with four or five wide receivers and to spell Amukamara or Mullen as needed.
There is always a great deal of turnover at the defensive back positions over the course of the season so we can expect him to get a shot at starting at some point.
Next. Raiders 2020 Rookie Roles: Linebacker Tanner Muse. dark
Early on we will have to settle for the former Buckeye to make his presence felt on special teams similar to fellow rookie Tanner Muse. The Raiders are high on Arnette and will give him every chance to succeed and Raider Nation will have to hope that he turns out better than the last Ohio State corner the team selected in the first round.