Texans Offer Short Response After Decision on Former 1st-Round Pick

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Damon Arnette #20 of the Las Vegas Raiders warms up before facing the Miami Dolphins.

Head coach DeMeco Ryans and the Houston Texans are taking a chance on former Las Vegas Raiders first-round draft pick Damon Arnette. Arnette, 28, was the No. 19 overall pick of the 2020 draft. The Raiders released him in 2021 amid legal issues.

The Texans had “no comment” on those matters, per ESPN’s DJ Bien-Aime on June 18.

His former head coach, Jon Gruden, believes Arnette has “reinvented himself” and has a “whole new identity.” If so, the Texans will have bolstered one of the NFL’s most talented units.

“He doesn’t look the same. He doesn’t act the same. He’s not the same. He has changed his identity. He changed the circle of people in his life, in a good way,” Gruden, now a personalty for  Barstool Sports, said, per KPRC 2’s Aaron Wilson on June 18, noting Arnette’s determination and focus. “He’s got to make up for some time that he lost. He’s really concentrating on stringing good days together. I’m really proud of him.”

“He has done it very impressively. I hope he continues to do that. We’ll all be able to pull for him,” Gruden said. “Some of the best stories I’ve been involved in with coaching is seeing guys turn it around from adversity. Darren Waller is a great example. He had problems and fixed himself. So did Maxx Crosby. Damon Arnette can do that as well.”

The Texans are taking a gamble that Arnette’s past remains behind him just 17 months after his last arrest.

Damon Arnette Had String of Arrests From 2021 Into 2024

The Raiders released Arnette in November 2021. The decision came amid a lawsuit over an alleged hit-and-run. Video also emerged of the corner “making death threats while brandishing firearms, per ESPN’s Paul Gutierrez at the time.

Arnette joined the Miami Dolphins’ practice squad in December 2021. He did not appear in any games and left in free agency.

He signed a futures contract with the Kansas City Chiefs in January 2022.

The Chiefs released Arnette just over one week later, following an arrest in Las Vegas on various charges, including one count of carrying a concealed weapon without a permit, two counts of assault with a deadly weapon, and two counts of possession of illegal substances.

Per Bien-Aime, Arnette’s case from January 22 “was dropped,” but he was indicted on the assault and firearm charges in May 2023.

Arnette accepted a plea deal. His attorney, Ross Goodman, also offered clarification.

“Contrary to earlier media reports, the evidence did not show Damon ‘pointed a gun at a valet attendant’, ‘took his keys’ and ‘fled,’” Goodman said, per Fox 5’s Michael Bell in August 2023 “Instead, grand jury testimony confirmed the firearm was visible in his waistband and not concealed and that Damon stood behind the open driver-side door to put the gun away which took about 36 seconds. In the next 20 minutes, Damon was interacting with everyone before recovering the lost ticket in a trash can after which the valet released the car.”

However, Arnette’s legal woes were not over. Police arrested Arnette two more times since then. One was in Miami in July 2022, for “driving with a suspended license” and “had cocaine and a straw in his pocket,” according to officers on the scene, per Fox 640’s Andy Slater.

The other was in Texas in January 2024 for “possession of less than a gram of meth and unlawful carrying of a firearm,” per NFL Network’s Clayton Holloway and Ian Rapoport.

His attorneys also explained that incident.

“Legal counsel for Mr. Arnette stated that the recent report that he was arrested for possession of methamphetamines and firearms is simply incorrect,” Arnette’s legal counsel wrote in Feb. 2023, per Buckeye Sports Bulletin’s Pat Engels. “Our client, at the time of the stop, was unable to provide law enforcement with his prescription for a lawful medication. The arrest was predicated on Mr. Arenette being unable to prove the medication was prescribed.

“Had he been able to do so at the time of the stop, there would have been no arrest for either the controlled substance or the firearms. Our offices are working with the local law enforcement to rectify this matter before any charges are brought by the District Attorney’s office.”

Texans CB Damon Arnette Touts Growth

According to Bien-Aime, Arnette’s attorneys say the corner entered into a diversion program following his last arrest. Moreover, Arnette told Wilson he has indeed turned over a new leaf after all of his issues.

“I’m 28 years old right now with three kids, with a mom and dad that loves me and has my back right now,” Arnette told Wilson in May. “With coaches, I feel like I’ve proved a complete turnaround. All the coaches that have been with me right now, I feel like their words would be more valuable because I’ve said a lot of things in the past. What I would say is what they see on film, that’s me being out of commission for three years.

“I’m a dawg on the field. I’m more of a professional now than I ever was before.”

“I feel like I’m the best version of myself that I’ve ever been,” Arnette told Wilson.

Gruden said he hopes “something great” comes of Arnette’s deal with the Texans. His first opportunity to prove himself on the field will come in training camp. Arnette and the Texans’ veterans will report on July 22, per the league.