Former first-rounder Damon Arnette reveals plans to meet with Cowboys after sentencing on gun charges

Former first-round draft pick Damon Arnette is seeking his comeback after avoiding felony charges in Clark County, Las Vegas this week.

Initially arrested on felony charges for threatening a valet with a gun following an incident in January of 2022, on Monday, the former Raiders cornerback pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges of assault and drawing a deadly weapon.

The guilty plea resulted in a sentence of a $2,500 fine and 50 hours of community service. Clark County District Judge Ronald Israel also warned Arnette that he cannot possess guns or be around anyone who has a gun.

Now, Arnette is reportedly planning to meet with the Dallas Cowboys about the potential for a second chance. Although the Cowboys are conducting training camp in Oxnard, California, they’ll be back in DFW this weekend for their first preseason game versus the Jaguars.

“If I’m blessed enough to get another chance in the NFL, then I’m going to kill that,” Arnette told reporters upon exiting the courtroom, via Ken Ritter of the Associated Press. “I’ve learned a lot. I’m remorseful about everything. I appreciate and respect another opportunity. I’m a better man than I was.”

The incident in Las Vegas was not Arnette’s only run-in with the law. Months later, in Miami, police arrested the cornerback after discovering a gun and cocaine upon conducting a search of his vehicle.

Arnette chasing a fresh start

Arnette was the No. 19 selection out of Ohio State in the 2020 NFL Draft. He played in 13 NFL games, with seven starts, and had three passes defended and 29 tackles (23 solo) before the Raiders released him due to other worrying behavior.

The Raiders released Arnette in 2021 after a video surfaced of him waving a gun around and allegedly threatening a fan. After his release, a stunning report emerged about his rookie season in Vegas.

“There were troubling off-the-field signs everywhere for Raiders first-rounder Damon Arnette,” NFL Network’s Ian Rappaport tweeted. “For instance: In his first year in the NFL, Arnette crashed four rental cars within roughly a month, sources said.”

The Raiders’ reaction to having to release Arnette also reflected the difficulty they had with the young cornerback.

“Very painful decision,” Mike Mayock said at the time. “We spent significant time, effort and resources trying to help him in all aspects of his life.

“There have been a series of bad decisions over the last year or so, but we can’t stand, we cannot stand for the video of Damon with a gun, threatening to take a life. The content was unacceptable, contrary to our values and our owner Mark Davis has been very clear and very consistent that this is not how we will conduct ourselves in this community. The bottom line — the Raiders will not tolerate this type of behavior.”

The Kansas City Chiefs later signed Arnette to a futures contract but cut him after the arrest in January.