Terrion Arnold Claims Raiders Used ‘Coin Toss’ To Select Brock Bowers Over Him In 2024 NFL Draft

Corey Hansford
Corey Hansford
4 Min Read
Feb 29, 2024; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Alabama defensive back Terrion Arnold (DB02) talks to the media during the 2024 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

The Las Vegas Raiders taking Georgia tight end Brock Bowers was one of the most surprising picks of the entire first round of the NFL Draft. Tight end was not a position of need for the Raiders, but the franchise ultimately made that decision.

One player who was available for the Raiders at that 13th pick was Alabama cornerback Terrion Arnold, one of the best players at his position and someone the Raiders had been linked to prior to the draft. Arnold would eventually be drafted by the Detroit Lions with the 19th overall pick, but apparently, he was considered by the Raiders at 13. However if Arnold is to be believed, the choice of Bowers over him came due to one simple flip.

Arnold said that after the draft Raiders coach Antonio Pierce called him and said that the team had a literal coin flip to choose between himself and Bowers, via Cody Benjamin of CBS Sports:

“(The Lions) knew that the Raiders were a possibility,” Arnold told “The Next Round” podcast this week. “And actually the Raiders coach, they called me after the draft, and they were like, ‘We actually had a coin toss between you and Brock Bowers. It landed on him.’ I was like, ‘Oh wow.'”

It sounds pretty outlandish that an NFL team would make such an important decision based on a coin flip, and it is certainly possible that Arnold took a figure of speech literally. Pierce could have said that it was a ‘coin flip’ between Arnold and Bowers simply to describe the team’s back-and-forth between the two.

However, assistant general manager Champ Kelly wouldn’t completely deny the possibility when asked about it via Vic Tafur of The Athletic:

In the end, the only thing that matters is that the Raiders chose to take Bowers and now the team has another exciting weapon to use as they look to leap into postseason contention in 2024.

Raiders eyeing veteran cornerback in free agency?

The Raiders did ultimately add a pair of cornerbacks in the draft, taking Decamerion Richardson in the fourth round and MJ Devonshire in the seventh, as well as safety Trey Taylor in the sixth. But the franchise could still be looking to boost the secondary.

One reporter believes the Raiders could look to add a veteran cornerback in free agency. Stephon Gilmore and Xavien Howard are still available, as is Adoree Jackson, the latter two having experience playing for Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham.

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Corey Hansford is the Senior Editor for Lakers Nation, as well as a contributor for Dodger Blue, Rams News Wire, and Raiders News Wire. He is a passionate follower of the Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas Cowboys, Los Angeles Dodgers, Chelsea FC, and the UFC. He can usually be seen arguing the merits of Kobe Bryant or cursing the decisions of Jerry Jones. He is also a former producer and associate producer for Sirius XM Sports Radio on both the Fantasy Sports Channel and College Sports Nation. Proud graduate of Long Beach Poly High School and The Real HU, Howard University, with a degree in Broadcast Journalism. Follow him on all social media outlets at @TheeCoreyH.