The Seahawks plan to sign Terrion Arnold after his Hard Knocks workout, as the NFL weighs the Commissioner's Exempt List over his felony case. (Photos: Terrion Arnold on X)
RENTON, Wash. – The Seattle Seahawks are planning to sign troubled former Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, putting a spotlight on a player whose legal troubles were featured only briefly during HBO’s Hard Knocks coverage of the team.
Schefter reported Thursday that Arnold plans to sign with Seattle after visiting the Seahawks, Houston Texans, New Orleans Saints and New York Giants.
Arnold’s workout with the Seahawks was shown on Episode 2 of Hard Knocks after GM John Schneider and others were seen weighing what they saw during the workout from the former first-round pick.
Arnold’s legal case
Arnold faces eight felony charges stemming from a Feb. 4 alleged kidnapping and armed robbery in the Tampa, Florida, area.
The charges include four counts of kidnapping and four counts of robbery with a firearm or deadly weapon. Each charge carries a potential life sentence if Arnold is convicted.
According to prosecutors, Arnold and several associates believed three men were responsible for stealing more than $250,000 in cash and personal property from an Airbnb Arnold had rented in Largo, Florida.
Authorities allege Arnold coordinated and directed others to lure the three men to an apartment. Police said the victims were beaten, held at gunpoint and pistol-whipped before being forced to leave. Investigators allege Arnold was not physically present during the attack.
Arnold has denied involvement.
His representatives have said there is no credible evidence connecting him to the alleged crimes and that Arnold maintains his innocence.
A judge later set Arnold’s bond at $1 million. He was allowed to remain out of custody under conditions that included surrendering his passport, avoiding contact with his co-defendants and remaining at his residence except for football-related activities and travel.
The Detroit Lions released Arnold days after his arrest.
‘Hard Knocks’ showed the Seahawks weighing Arnold
The timing of the Seahawks’ decision is notable because Arnold’s potential signing was already playing out on Hard Knocks.
The second episode showed Seahawks personnel discussing Arnold and his potential fit with the team before cameras followed him through a workout at the team’s facility. Head coach Mike Macdonald and general manager John Schneider were shown weighing the former first-round pick’s talent and character concerns.
The episode ultimately ended with Macdonald greeting Arnold after the workout.
What viewers did not get was a detailed examination of the criminal case now facing the 23-year-old cornerback.
The episode acknowledged Arnold’s legal situation, but the allegations involving the February robbery and kidnapping were not a central part of the segment. That distinction matters now that Seattle appears ready to make Arnold a member of the team.
The NFL still has a decision to make
Signing Arnold does not necessarily mean he will play for Seattle.
Schefter reported that the NFL must determine whether Arnold will be placed on the Commissioner’s Exempt List.
That decision could determine whether Arnold is available to participate with the Seahawks while his criminal case moves through court.
Arnold was the No. 24 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft and played two seasons in Detroit. He appeared in 24 games, including 22 starts, recording 91 tackles, 18 passes defensed and one interception.
For Seattle, the move represents a significant gamble.
For Hard Knocks, it also changes the context of what viewers saw this week.
The workout that ended as a question mark at the end of the episode now appears to have been the first public look at the Seahawks deciding whether they were willing to take a chance on Arnold.
That chance is now reportedly becoming a contract.
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