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Just before the 2024 draft, a few rumours emerged that the Seahawks could take a cornerback with their top pick. The two names mentioned were Quinyon Mitchell and Terrion Arnold.
In the end Byron Murphy dropped to the 16th pick — the player they graded as the top defender in the draft. Had he not been available, it’s very possible Mitchell or Arnold would’ve been their man instead.
According to Jordan Schultz, Arnold visited the Seahawks on Sunday. This is despite being charged with kidnapping and robbery.
Authorities accuse him of orchestrating the abduction and beating of three men whom prosecutors believe he wrongly suspected of having stolen luxury goods and $100,000 in cash from him.
According to prosecutors, the victims were abducted three days after cash and luxury items, including Rolex watches and Louis Vuitton bags, were reported stolen from Arnold at an Airbnb rental in the Tampa area. Prosecutors say that six of Arnold’s associates carried out the crimes by holding, beating and pistol-whipping the victims and that Arnold wasn’t there at the time.
None of Arnold’s co-defendants had bond set for them. Two female co-defendants have pleaded guilty and are cooperating with authorities. Their statements tie Arnold to the crimes even though he was not at the apartment, according to prosecutors.
Prosecutors argue that Arnold is as responsible for the crimes as his co-defendants because he told his associates that he thought he knew who had stolen from him and said that he wanted to confront them, setting events in motion.
If he’s convicted he could face a life sentence.
So what’s going on here?
I have no idea on the legal situation obviously but you’d imagine for him to be able to actually play for the Seahawks, they would need some information to suggest he will be available. At the very least it’s hard to imagine the NFL just allowing business as usual given the severity of the charge.
The fact the Lions cut him almost immediately didn’t suggest at the time this would be something that either just goes away or will drag out long enough for Arnold to continue to play football in the short term. Him taking visits, though, suggests otherwise.
His attorney has argued in court that prosecutors are “not even close” to showing that the player knew or directed what his associates would do. His agency has said the judge’s ruling “confirms that there is very little evidence to even suggest any criminal involvement by Mr. Arnold.”
If the attorney and the agency are correct and there’s not enough evidence to prove that he was involved, it’s not beyond the realms of possibility we’re heading towards a foregone conclusion that charges are dropped. What evidence would emerge now to change that? Either there are clearly evidenced instructions or there aren’t. If not, it’s hard to know how anything can be proven in court.
The Athletic published a lengthy report on the situation on July 6th. Included is the following exert:
A man in the neighborhood would later tell Largo police he smelled “a constant cloud” of marijuana smoke emanating from Arnold’s rental. He guessed 20 people were coming in and out of the home, loud enough at 3:30 or 4 a.m. to wake him and his family.
Neighbors discussed seeing a stripper standing on a counter visible from the kitchen window. The Airbnb host estimated it took three cleaners seven hours and 20 trash bags to clean the townhome after Arnold checked out.
The owner of the cleaning company told police that her cleaners saw multiple firearms inside the residence, including an AR-style long gun, and a notebook they believed was used to log the sale of narcotics.
“What a weekend,” the president of the community’s homeowners association later told police, according to body cam footage. “We’re changing the rules because of that.”
By Feb. 1, a Sunday morning, Arnold and others staying at the house began noticing things were missing. Arnold asked a neighbor across the street if he could review security footage.
“He was respectful, he was kind,” the neighbor later told police. “But his group that he was with were just loud and obnoxious … They definitely came across lower-rent than him. He seemed somewhat professional. I wanted to run into him to just say, ‘This is your image, this is your brand. You got to lose these clowns.’”
Then, later in the piece:
Police say while those reports were being taken, the plan to lure Lopez and Tenesaca to the apartment was coming together.
“Yall communicate in here,” wrote Hilton, in creating an iPhone group chat at 11:29 p.m.
Randazzo and Del Valle were part of the chat. So were Christion Williams and Lyndell Hudson, two former Division I football players and longtime friends of Arnold. Arnold, however, was not.
“… text in this chat when yall are 5 away from the house,” Hilton texted to Williams and Hudson in the group chat.
A few minutes later, Williams and Hudson arrived at Eagles Point at Tampa Palms, a large apartment complex a mile from the University of South Florida.
Police say Williams carried a semiautomatic handgun while Hudson — a former Florida offensive lineman who weighed 325 pounds and stood 6-5 in college — had an AR-15-style rifle. They walked up two flights of stairs to the apartment, where Del Valle let them in.
And then, police said, the men hid in a bedroom closet, guns in hand, waiting for Tenesaca and Lopez to get there.
“Let us know when he is inside,” came a text from Hilton’s phone.
I would recommend reading the full piece by the Athletic.
As for Seattle’s interest — I think two things.
One, perhaps they have information to suggest the above is likely, that charges will soon be dropped.
Two, I also suspect they really took to Arnold during their scouting and drafting process.
Despite the significance of the alleged crime he’s been charged with, he received rave reviews for his character pre-draft. He was seen as one of the most engaging, personable and high character individuals.
Media types gushed over his interviews. There were no flags from his time at Alabama. You couldn’t help but like him when you listened to him speak. Nick Saban wrote a letter of support for Arnold’s release on bond, citing ‘exceptional character’.
For a team so focused on character, it’s very easy to see why the Seahawks would’ve given him high marks. I suspect that’s one of the reasons why they’ve got him in — to dig around themselves and get his side of the story. To find out exactly what’s gone off here.
If he’s in a position to continue his career, their background knowledge of the player might lead them to give him the benefit of the doubt.
Some cynical people might view this as purely being motivated due to a lack of depth at cornerback. I don’t think the Seahawks are desperate enough to pull a stunt like that. After all, they were connected with a potential future visit with Arnold a month ago.
I’d imagine it’s down to the confidence in their own work pre-draft, the belief that he was an A+ character prospect and that there might not be enough evidence to force a conviction, meaning he will be a free man. Thus, the Seahawks could be willing to give him an opportunity to restart his career and life.
I don’t think they’d do that for absolutely anyone who just so happened to be a former first round pick. I think the reason they might do it for Arnold is due to the character traits he previously showed.
If you missed my earlier piece on why Sam Darnold is being ranked too low in the media, check it out here.
