Once considered a bit of a reach in the first round, Damon Arnette has turned heads since joining the Las Vegas Raiders, including a legendary wideout’s.
With two first round picks in the 2020 NFL Draft, the Las Vegas Raiders addressed two of the biggest needs on their roster. First, they added Alabama speedy wideout Henry Ruggs III with the No. 12 overall pick before raising eyebrows in selecting Ohio State cornerback Damon Arnette at No. 19 overall.
Originally looked at as a reach, as he was knocked for being too slow, which we know he is not, Arnette looks all the bit the part of an NFL cornerback since putting on the Silver and Black. Coaches and teammates have given him rave reviews this summer, and he has played with a bit of a chip on his shoulder, even staying step-by-step with Ruggs in drills.
On Thursday, a legendary wide receiver chimed in.
OchoCino weighs in
During his time in the NFL, Chad Johnson, AKA OchoCinco terrorized opposing defenses, becoming one of the premier wide receivers in the league. A guy who could do it all from his wideout position, Johnson put together some incredible seasons in Cincinnati, racking up 1,000 yards in six straight seasons.
On Thursday, the legend tweeted out about a certain No. 20 that plays for the Raiders, and he had a glowing review of what he has seen.
I’m not sure who number 20 is for the Raiders but please let him know whoever he trained with needs a significant raise because his technique, patience & lateral movement is power point worthy ®️
— Chad Johnson (@ochocinco) August 20, 2020
That No. 20 is Arnette, who has shrugged off all the post-draft talk and looks like a guy who could start as a rookie in this Raiders defense. He plays with passion, and incredible skill, and is the kind of cornerback who could be perfect alongside Trayvon Mullen in 2020.
As it stands, Arnette is behind Prince Amukamara in terms of the starting lineup, but that could change if the kid continues to put in the kind of work he has so far during training camp. Cornerback is a position that has been an issue for the Raiders for quite some time, and it would be a huge tip of the cap to Mike Mayock if he could land starters in Mullen and Arnette in back-to-back drafts.