Sources: Facing charges, Terrion Arnold set to join Seahawks
Cornerback Terrion Arnold, who was released by the Detroit Lions earlier this summer after being charged with multiple felonies, plans to sign with the Seahawks, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter and NFL Network's Ian Rapoport on Thursday.
The deal will be for one year, sources toldRapoport.
Arnold, 23, is facing eight felony charges stemming from a kidnapping and robbery in Tampa, Florida, in February. He was arrested in Hillsborough County in June after turning himself in and was released the following week by the Lions, who drafted him in the first round in 2024.
A day before the Lions cut him, Arnold was released from custody after posting a $1 million bond. No trial date has been set.Arnold's next scheduled court date is a disposition hearing Oct. 5.
At some point, Arnold projects to factor into the mix for the Seahawks' No. 3 cornerback job. But it's not clear when he'll be available. Arnold might be placed on the NFL commissioner's exempt list, which would bar him from playing or practicing while the league looks into his case. He still would be able to attend meetings and would be paid.
Arnold is choosing Seattle after working out for the team Sunday. He previously met with the Houston Texans, then after he visited Seahawks headquarters, met with the New Orleans Saints and New York Giants.
Coach Mike Macdonald confirmed Seattle's interest in Arnold on Monday.
"It's enough right now that we had him in for a great visit, a great tryout," he said. "It's a situation where there's other things that are surrounding it. We're aware of that. But we're working through the situation right now. But it was a great visit. I really enjoyed meeting him, and I think he enjoyed being here, so we'll see where it goes."
The Seahawks' interest in Arnold was also documented on the second episode of this week's "Hard Knocks," which included a clip of his workout. In another clip, general manager John Schneider is seen talking with another member of Seattle's front office about other instances of an NFL team acquiring a player with an ongoing legal case, as if trying to gauge the potential blowback should Seattle sign Arnold.
Arnold is accused of orchestrating the kidnapping and beating of three men whom prosecutors believe he wrongly suspected of stealing $100,000 in cash from him, along with luxury watches and bags.
Arnold has pleaded not guilty, and, through his representatives, he has denied the allegations. He is facing four counts of kidnapping and four counts of armed robbery, which carry a potential sentence of life in prison.
Asked earlier this week about Arnold's potential availability given his legal situation, Macdonald said, "I think we understand that anything is kind of on the table, and that's where we're at in the process."
After letting Riq Woolen leave in free agency, the Seahawks have Noah Igbinoghene and Nehemiah Pritchett battling for the No. 3 cornerback job behind Devon Witherspoon and Josh Jobe. They selected Julian Neal in the third round of April's draft, but he's working his way back from an undisclosed injury that has sidelined him since early in training camp.
The Seahawks have some preexisting connections to Arnold. Karl Scott, the team's defensive backs coach and defensive passing game coordinator, recruited Arnold to Alabama while Scott was the Crimson Tide's DBs coach, though he left the school before Arnold's freshman season. No. 3 quarterback Jalen Milroe is among the current Seahawks who were college teammates with Arnold.
In the "Hard Knocks" episode, Schneider is seen relaying to Macdonald what Milroe had said about the cornerback while vouching for him.
The Seahawks had strong interest in Arnold leading up to the 2024 draft, when he was taken 24th by Detroit. He played in only eight games last season while dealing with a shoulder injury that eventually required surgery. In 24 career games, he has one interception and 18 passes defensed.
ESPN'sXuan Thai contributed to this report.
