The Raiders’ defensive revamp continued Thursday in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
Las Vegas selected Ohio State's Damon Arnette with the No. 19 overall pick, adding a cornerback to a defense that already has undergone an extensive makeover this offseason.
Arnette played opposite Jeff Okudah (No. 3 pick by the Detroit Lions) in Columbus, earning second-team All-Big Ten Honors in 2019. He also compared very favorably to his draft peers in single coverage, according to Pro Football Focus.
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One year after turning heads by drafting edge rusher Clelin Ferrell No. 4 overall, the Raiders again surprised with a first-rounder on defense. NBC Sports Bay Area's Josh Schrock and Dalton Johnson didn't project Arnette as a first-round pick in their final mock draft, and the Ohio State corner rose no higher than No. 31 in other mock drafts. Still, Johnson previously wrote that Arnette "should be able to start in the NFL on Day 1."
The Raiders needed a cornerback to start opposite Trayvon Mullen, and Arnette's selection continues their offseason-long emphasis on defense. The Silver and Black also added defensive tackle Maliek Collins, edge rusher Carl Nassib, linebackers Nick Kwiatkoski and Cory Littleton, and safeties Jeff Heath and Damarious Randall in free agency.
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NFL
Player profile: Damon Arnette
Position: Cornerback
Height: 6-foot
Weight: 195 pounds
Hometown: Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Combine measurables
40-yard dash: 4.56 seconds
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