Not many expected Ohio State corner Damon Arnette to be selected in the first round. Here’s how Twitter reacted to the Raiders’ pick.
Leave it to the Raiders to confuse NFL fans on draft day. With the 19th overall pick in Thursday’s Day 1 of the 2020 NFL Draft, Las Vegas selected Ohio State cornerback Damon Arnette.
Arnette defended 22 passes in four seasons at Ohio State and grabbed five interceptions but wasn’t even the top corner on the Buckeyes depth chart.
Nearly every mock draft had Arnette as a second round selection, with some even having the corner not selected until the third round. Thus, the pick sent some shockwaves around the Twitter world.
The pick had mixed reactions from NFL Twitter as some loved the pick and considered it a steal while some felt the Raiders reached.
Here’s a look at how both Raiders nation and NFL Twitter reacted to perhaps the biggest surprise of day one.
The #Raiders got a WR at No. 12 and then go CB at No. 19. They talked trade, but go with #OSU CB Damon Arnette. A first-round surprise.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 24, 2020
Many fans demonstrated frustration and poked fun at Vegas for the questionable pick.
#Raiders fans trying to figure out who Damon Arnette is 😳😬#NFLDraft
— SportsBettingDime (@SBD) April 24, 2020
https://t.co/rO6mlYcle0
https://twitter.com/VegasRaiders999/status/1253513374178185216
I'm dumbfounded with @Raiders picks?! What about Murray or Queen or Diggs? I mean Arnette?! no offense but not a single analysis has him as a 1st Round guy. They can't all be wrong just saying!!
— Casey (@caseygroove13) April 24, 2020
After being bummed our draft trip was canceled I am now happy not there. What a joke these picks are....
— Silver and Black (@RaiderTom2120) April 24, 2020
Others including Raiders running back Josh Jacobs thought highly of the pick.
I trust the @Raiders organization get players that fit out system like it or not 🤷🏽♂️
— Josh Jacobs (@iAM_JoshJacobs) April 24, 2020
"Damon Arnette was one of the guys on my 'better than' team. I liked him better than the scout, but clearly I didn't like him better than the Raiders did."@PriscoCBS was high on Arnette coming into this year's draft and the Raiders must've listened as they took him at 19. pic.twitter.com/qXu8zvaX2a
— CBS Sports HQ (@CBSSportsHQ) April 24, 2020
Damon Arnette: Lowest passer rating allowed in single coverage in this draft class pic.twitter.com/alM89YkXfy
— PFF (@PFF) April 24, 2020
Damon Arnette at 19 is NOT a reach. He's really, really good. Love him in press. Just leave him on the boundary and watch him beat people up. Uses the sideline better than everyone else in this class not named Okudah or Terrell.
— Brett Kollmann (@BrettKollmann) April 24, 2020
Physical, fluid, and smart.
Got a text from an NFL coach who had Damon Arnette rated as a top 10 player in this draft. Looks like the Raiders got a steal.
— Dustin Fox (@DustinFox37) April 24, 2020
DBU, and don't you forget it.@OhioStateFB's @damon_arnette is headed to Las Vegas as the @Raiders take the CB with the nineteenth overall pick in the #NFLDraft!@NFL x @OhioStAthletics pic.twitter.com/Jev08p6O2d
— Ohio State on BTN (@OhioStateOnBTN) April 24, 2020
With Arnette of the board, Ohio State produced another year loaded with first-round talent with three Buckeyes going in the top 20. Over the next two days, expect plenty of Buckeyes to find their new home.
As for the Raiders, Arnette wasn’t their only addition of day one. The team also selected Alabama wide receiver Henry Ruggs with the 12th overall pick and made the SEC standout the first wide receiver drafted in this year’s loaded wideout class.
One thing is for sure, Arnette is a Las Vegas Raider and will have a chance to prove those doubting him wrong. On the flip side, he could be the bust some Raiders fans fear he will be. No one will know until the corner takes the field.