The Detroit Lions parted ways with cornerback Terrion Arnold earlier this offseason due to his legal issues, and now it appears that the Seattle Seahawks are preparing for the upcoming campaign as if he may not be available to them, either.
Arnold's first bit of bad news came in the form of an X post from NFL Network's Mike Garafolo on Tuesday, August 18.
“Seahawks are still in line to sign CB Terrion Arnold but are working through timing and it will take a while, sources tell me and @RapSheet,” Garafolo reported. ”The NFL will place Arnold on the commissioner’s exempt list once signed, so he won’t play or practice while his legal case plays out.”
The #Seahawks are still in line to sign CB Terrion Arnold but are working through timing and it will take a while, sources tell me and @RapSheet.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) August 18, 2026
The NFL will place Arnold on the commissioner’s exempt list once signed, so he won’t play or practice while his legal case plays out. pic.twitter.com/F3h3AAHuky
Arnold is facing four counts of kidnapping and four counts of armed robbery in Florida that could result in life imprisonment should he face convictions across the board.
Seahawks add Trevon Diggs to secondary, which could impact Terrion Arnold's future in Seattle
The second concern for Arnold came in the form of a decision Seattle made on Wednesday to sign former Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers cornerback Trevon Diggs to a one-year contract, according to a report from Brady Henderson of ESPN.
"The Seahawks still plan to sign cornerback Terrion Arnold, but with no word on when he will be available to play amid his ongoing legal case, Diggs gives them more immediate help at the position," Henderson wrote.
That said, a team's plans in mid-August can change drastically several weeks or months into the future. It is unclear how long it will take for Arnold to clear up his legal concerns, if he can do so at all.
Assuming Arnold doesn't end up serving any prison time, which qualifies as a considerable assumption at this point, the NFL may still decide to impose some sort of punishment on him in the form of a fine and/or a suspension.
If Diggs stays healthy and shines, Seattle may decide it does not need to add another cornerback by the time Arnold is available. And if Diggs struggles before Arnold can practice and play, the Seahawks may look elsewhere via free agency or the trade market for more immediate relief.
Arnold, now 23 years old, was a first-round pick of the Lions in 2024. However, he struggled with both injuries and his performance on the field when he was healthy enough to play.
Despite that and his serious legal problems, Arnold received interest from multiple teams after Detroit cut him loose. But as the league and the Seahawks made clear with the decisions they made this week, Arnold still has a long way to go before he's back on an NFL field free and clear.
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