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Former Raiders First-Round Pick Signing With AFC Team

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Austin C. Boyd | Last updated Jun 18, 2025 2:58 PM ET

It's been a long road for former Las Vegas Raiders first-round pick Damon Arnette. He was a good player in college, but nobody thought he was a first-round pick except former general manager Mike Mayock.

It turns out that the majority was correct in this situation, as Arnette didn't even play two full seasons in Las Vegas before getting released. He previously dealt with numerous off-the-field issues, which made it difficult to justify a team signing him.

In recent years, Arnette has stayed out of headlines and joined the UFL's Houston Roughnecks this year. His play caught the attention of the Houston Texans, and they recently brought him in for a workout.

That workout must've gone well, as according to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, Arnette is expected to sign with the Texans. The former Ohio State standout had 18 tackles, a sack and a pick-six for the Roughnecks.

Time will tell if that success will translate to the NFL field. He hasn't played a game since 2021 and only has 13 regular season games under his belt despite his status as a former first-round pick.

Arnette is already going to be 29 at the start of the season, so there's not a ton of upside with him. However, it doesn't hurt to give him a training camp spot to see what he can do.

While Arnette was a reach in the first round, he likely would've at least been a second-round pick if the Raiders didn't select him. There's clearly some talent there, and perhaps the Texans can get the best out of him.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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