With 12 offensive players including six quarterbacks going before them in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Las Vegas Raiders had their choice of every top defensive prospect in the draft or to go with the best offensive player available. They ultimately went with Georgia tight end Brock Bowers with the 13th pick, but might have had help from a handy coin flip.
At least, that’s what cornerback Terrion Arnold – who wound up going 24th overall to the Detroit Lions – said recently. Appearing on The Next Round podcast, Arnold said that the Raiders actually called him after the draft and admitted to having a coin toss between him and Bowers on who to draft.
“And, actually, the Raiders coach, they called me after the draft,” Arnold said. “They were like, ‘We actually had a coin toss between you and Brock Bowers. It landed on him.’”
As you might imagine, people were eager to ask the Raiders directly if such a coin flip took place. Speaking to reporters this week, Raiders assistant general manager Champ Kelly stated that he “can’t confirm” at all that a coin flip was made.
Kelly made it clear that the Raiders drafted Bowers and are excited to have him.
“I can’t confirm that at all,” Kelly said, via On3 Sports. “Terrion is a good player. I’m excited to watch his career and watch him play. But we drafted Brock. And we’re excited to get him here. And I don’t think anyone else in our whole draft room felt any other way.”
Do you think Arnold was lying or did someone prank him into thinking the Raiders were calling him?