The Houston Texans are taking a shot on a former first-round draft pick who is trying to make the most of his second chance. The team signed former Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Damon Arnette after he spent the last three seasons out of the NFL.
The Texans inked Arnette on Wednesday after he worked out with the team in early June. He put himself back on NFL radars following a strong performance with the Houston Roughnecks in the UFL.
We have our first official #UFL to NFL workout: The Houston Texans worked out @XFLRoughnecks DB Damon Arnette.
— James Larsen (@JamesLarsenPFN) June 9, 2025
Arnette was one of Houston's top corners this year, with 19 tackles and a pick six: pic.twitter.com/bgAsxxAI9Rhttps://t.co/b0riYSHgY1
Arnette's initial run in the NFL lasted just a season and a half. Despite being the No. 19 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, Arnette lasted just 13 games with the Raiders after multiple arrests and a disturbing gun video that leaked on social media.
The video, which appeared on TikTok, showed Arnette brandishing a gun and threatening to kill someone. The Raiders released Arnette shortly after the video leaked. At the time, the NFL said it was looking into the incident.
Days prior to that video, Arnette was sued over an alleged hit-and-run and was involved in another lawsuit in which he was accused of getting into an altercation with a valet at a casino.
Two months after Arnette's release, he was picked up by the Kansas City Chiefs. His time with the team lasted just barely over a week, as he was arrested on multiple charges, including assault with a deadly weapon, shortly after signing with the team.
In Arnette's 13 games with the Raiders, he registered 29 combined tackles and one tackle for loss.
Following his release from the Chiefs, Arnette was out of football before his 2025 comeback with the Roughnecks. In May, he told Click2Houston.com that he made "some serious life changes" since his first stint in the NFL. He said he made a "complete turnaround," and added that he's "the best version of myself that I’ve ever been.”
Given his history in the league, Arnette faces stiff odds to make the Texans next season. But if he can stay out of trouble off the field, Arnette could finally show the skills that made him a first-round draft pick so many years ago.
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