Raiders Release Another Former 1st Round Pick

The Raiders' off-field issues continue to pile up this season as the 2021 campaign has become absolutely mired in controversy and turmoil. Today, the team cut Defensive Back Damon Arnette after the second year CB threatened to kill someone in an Instagram story while he also wielded several guns throughout the short video.

There were troubling off-the-field signs everywhere for #Raiders first-rounder Damon Arnette. For instance: In his first year in the NFL, Arnette crashed four rental cars within roughly a month, sources said. Now, after a tumultuous weekend including online threats, he’s out.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 8, 2021

Arnette, who was one of the Raiders' first-round picks in 2020 has only played in 13 games during his short time with the team, logging a meager 29 tackles, with 3 passes defended and no interceptions to his name. Reportedly, Arnette is also currently facing two lawsuits from other separate incidents that both occurred last year; the first involving an alleged hit-and-run accident in which serious injuries were sustained and the second concerning a situation where Arnette apparently spit on a valet employee. At this point, it might be time to call the Raiders' 2020 draft a complete misfire.

Raiders had 5 picks on Day 1 and 2 of the 2020 draft.

Henry Ruggs - Released
Damon Arnette - Released
Lynn Bowden - Traded
Bryan Edwards -
Tanner Muse - Released, Sea PS
— Benjamin Allbright (@AllbrightNFL) November 8, 2021

This news quickly follows on the wake of the terribly horrific accident and subsequent release involving fellow former 2020 first-round pick WR Henry Ruggs III last week, in which he killed a 23 year old woman and her dog. Prosecutors have stated that Ruggs' was driving was over 150mph prior to the collision, had a loaded weapon in the vehicle as well as a police-scanner radio and was operating the vehicle while his blood alcohol level was double the legal limit.

Here's #Raiders GM Mike Mayock explaining the decision to release CB Damon Arnette: "We cannot stand for the video of Damon Arnette with a gun threatening to take a life. The content was unacceptable."pic.twitter.com/aqjpsVRd4j
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) November 8, 2021

Despite losing their former Head Coach in October to resignation after being publicly ousted for his misogynistic, racist and homophobic emails that were uncovered as a part of an NFL investigation, and now both of their first-round picks from only a season ago the Raiders have responded admirably on the field to this unfortunate circumstances under the leadership of QB Derek Carr, finding their way to 5-3 at the old halfway point.

The Raiders also signed veteran WR DeSean Jackson earlier today.