First-round pick says Raiders passed on him after 'coin toss'

During a Tuesday appearance on "The Next Round" podcast, Arnold said a Raiders coach called him after the draft. He told him they held "a coin toss" between him and Georgia tight end Brock Bowers, whom Vegas selected with pick No. 13. The Lions took Arnold — a two-year starter at Alabama — with pick No. 24.

Perhaps the coach used a figure of speech, and Arnold misunderstood him. On Wednesday, Las Vegas assistant general manager Champ Kelly told the media, "I can't confirm" that an actual coin flip happened.

Whether the Raiders flipped a coin or not, they seemed to lack a solid fallback plan after failing to land one of the draft's top quarterbacks. ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported Vegas explored trading for LSU's Jayden Daniels, but the Washington Commanders wouldn't give up the No. 2 pick. 

Fowler added the Raiders were interested in Washington QB Michael Penix Jr., but they didn't want to trade up for him. The Atlanta Falcons took Penix with the eighth overall pick.

Taking Bowers, a two-time All-American, was a head-scratcher. TE wasn't a glaring need for the Raiders, who selected Notre Dame's Michael Mayer in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft.

The Raiders did need another corner, however. CB Amik Robertson — who started in 12 games for Vegas in 2023 — signed with the Lions in free agency. Arnold seemed like a solid replacement. In 14 games in 2023, he recorded five interceptions. 

Regardless, only time will tell if the Raiders made a mistake when they passed on Arnold.