Alabama cornerback Terrion Arnold is in contention to be the first defensive player selected in the 2024 NFL Draft. The No. 20 ranked prospect in our latest TDN100 update, Arnold is a high-upside cover man with plug-and-play capabilities.
Arnold possesses the athletic tools required to develop into an elite cornerback at the next level. He is an explosive player who easily mirrors his opposition when tasked with playing press-man coverage. Arnold successfully disrupts timing by jamming receivers at the line of scrimmage.
Few cornerbacks performed at the level Arnold did throughout the 2023 campaign. Testing results at the NFL Scouting Combine are expected to solidify Arnold's stock as a top-20 selection. With that in mind, we've identified three ideal team fits for Arnold.
PITTSBURGH STEELERS
The Steelers fielded a below-average secondary throughout the 2023 campaign, allowing a 17th-ranked 227.1 pass yards per game. The cornerback position has needed retooling in Pittsburgh for quite some time now. Adding Joey Porter Jr. in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft was a heck of a start to the makeover that's required, but more is now needed.
Levi Wallace is an unrestricted free agent and Patrick Peterson is a potential cap casualty. Neither player should be relied on to play heavy snap counts next season. Pairing Porter Jr. with Arnold would give the Steelers an exciting and ascending duo at cornerback. Defending the pass is a necessity against Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow in the ever-competitive AFC North.
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
Cornerback will be a big need for Colts general manager Chris Ballard for a second consecutive offseason. Defensive coordinator Gus Bradley is an equalizer. Bradley's ability to coach guys up helped Indianapolis enjoy better-than-expected results versus the pass considering the inexperienced unit that took the field.
The always-reliable Kenny Moore played more than 1,000 snaps. The two next-most-used cornerbacks were both rookies: JuJu Brents and Jaylon Jones. The Colts have to deal with C.J. Stroud and Trevor Lawrence in the AFC South, and the Titans will be pass-happy under Will Levis and new head coach Brian Callahan. Ballard should continue adding young talent to his secondary. Arnold's short-area quickness would allow him to thrive in Bradley's Cover 3-heavy scheme, where he can trigger downhill and make plays on the ball.
LOS ANGELES RAMS
Losing defensive coordinator Raheem Morris is a big blow to Sean McVay's coaching staff. McVay has promoted former linebackers coach and pass-rush coordinator Chris Shula as his new defensive coordinator. Shula has a high ceiling in an elevated role, but the Rams also need to ensure he has more talent at his disposal.
Morris maximized a young defense that received contributions from unlikely sources like Kobie Turner, Michael Hoecht, and Christian Rozeboom. At cornerback, Ahkello Witherspoon played 93.47% of defensive snaps last season on an expiring contract. If Witherspoon doesn't return, Les Snead needs to add more talent to a room that was also spearheaded by Derion Kendrick and Cobie Durant. Arnold would arguably be the Rams' best cornerback next season.
