Predicting the short-term and long-term impact of Raiders rookie class
By Brad Weiss
Predicting the short-term and long-term impact of Raiders rookie class
Round 1, Pick No. 19: Ohio State CB Damon Arnette
A surprising pick at the time, the Raiders selected Ohio State cornerback Damon Arnette at No. 19 overall, as he joined teammate, and position-mate Jeffrey Okudah in the top-20 picks. Expected to come in and play behind veterans as a rookie, Arnette has been a monster this summer, and is likely to start in Year 1.
On Monday, the team traded away his biggest competition in Prince Amukamara, a vet who was brought in via free agency in May. With that move, it signaled that it was already Arnette Time, and for good reason, as he has been one of the more consistent players on this roster this summer.
After selecting Trayvon Mullen in Round 2 last season, Mike Mayock has gotten his two starting cornerbacks in back-to-back drafts. There is a youth movement going on at the position group heading into 2020, and Arnette plays the kind of physical brand of football that could see him eventually become a Pro Bowl player.
- Short-Term: Starting cornerback as a rookie opposite Trayvon Mullen
- Long-Term: Potential to be a shutdown corner for years to come