Terrion Arnold has found his way back into the NFL.
The former Detroit Lions first-round pick is expected to sign a one-year contract with the Seattle Seahawks, giving the 23-year-old cornerback another opportunity to continue his professional career after a turbulent offseason. NFL sources reported Thursday that Arnold had chosen Seattle following visits with several teams.
The move comes less than two months after Detroit released Arnold following his arrest on multiple felony charges stemming from an alleged kidnapping and robbery incident in Tampa, Florida. Arnold has pleaded not guilty and has denied the allegations through his representatives. His next scheduled court date is Oct. 5.
Before Seattle made its decision, however, the Seahawks wanted to evaluate Arnold for themselves.
And according to head coach Mike Macdonald, the workout went extremely well.
“It was a great visit, a great tryout,” Macdonald said earlier this week, explaining that the organization was still working through the circumstances surrounding Arnold.
That tryout ultimately appears to have been enough to convince Seattle that Arnold was worth the opportunity.
A fresh start in Seattle
For Arnold, joining the Seahawks represents a chance to reset his football career.
Detroit selected him No. 24 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft after an impressive career at Alabama. Although his professional career has been interrupted by injuries and off-field issues, Arnold has shown enough ability to remain an intriguing talent.
Through 24 NFL games, he has recorded one interception and 18 passes defended. He appeared in only eight games last season while dealing with a shoulder injury that eventually required surgery.
Seattle could give him an opportunity to compete for a meaningful role in its secondary.
The Seahawks currently have Devon Witherspoon and Josh Jobe among their cornerback options, while the No. 3 spot remains unsettled. That creates an opening for Arnold if he is eventually cleared to participate.
Seattle already had interest in Arnold
The Seahawks’ interest isn’t completely new.
Seattle reportedly had strong interest in Arnold before the 2024 draft, when Detroit ultimately selected him. There are also connections between Arnold and members of the Seahawks organization.
Defensive backs coach Karl Scott recruited Arnold to Alabama, while quarterback Jalen Milroe was Arnold’s college teammate. Those relationships gave Seattle additional insight into the player beyond what could be learned from film and statistics.
The Seahawks even featured Arnold’s workout on Hard Knocks, giving viewers a behind-the-scenes look at the team’s evaluation process.
Now, that evaluation has resulted in a contract.
The biggest question remains his availability
While Arnold is returning to an NFL roster, his immediate playing status remains uncertain.
Because of the ongoing legal proceedings, the NFL could place him on the commissioner’s exempt list. If that happens, Arnold could attend meetings and receive his salary but would be prohibited from practicing or playing while the league reviews his situation.
For now, though, Arnold has accomplished the first step: finding another NFL home.
The Seahawks are betting that his talent and potential are worth the complicated circumstances surrounding him. Arnold now has an opportunity to prove that the player who made him a first-round selection is still there.
The next challenge will be turning that “great tryout” into a successful return to the field.
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