Seahawks ‘probably’ would have released Terrion Arnold if he was on the team when arrested

If cornerback Terrion Arnold had been on the Seattle Seahawks’ roster when he was arrested earlier this offseason, they likely would have released him, Seattle’s GM said recently.

“You would imagine if it was flipped, it would probably be the same thing here?” Seahawks special teams coordinator Jay Harbaugh asked the team’s general manager, John Schneider, in the third episode of HBO Max’s “Hard Knocks.”

“I think we probably would have had to let him go,” Schneider responded.

“Because it’s just the nature of, like, when you’re the team, it’s different than the second-chance team,” Harbaugh said.

Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald said last week that the team has an agreement in place to sign Arnold, but his timetable for arriving in Seattle remains uncertain. The Detroit Lions released Arnold in June, less than a week after he was arrested on charges of kidnapping and robbery from an incident in early February. The charges carry a potential sentence of life in prison.

Earlier in the conversation with Schneider, Harbaugh wondered why the Lions would release their 2024 first-round pick.

“It was because it was very shocking,” Schneider said. “If you read The Athletic article, it’s not good.”

In early July, The Athletic detailed the situation that led to serious charges against Arnold. It included a weekend of partying that preceded the incident, with the alleged crimes leading to multiple arrests. Arnold was granted bail, allowing him to continue his NFL career while the legal process continues. The 23-year-old defensive back visited several teams, including the New York Giants, the New Orleans Saints and the Houston Texans. Ultimately, he agreed to terms with the Seahawks.

Arnold has his bail set at $1 million after initially being held without bond following his arrest. Judge Christopher C. Sabella, who set his bail, denied prosecutors’ request for Arnold to wear an ankle monitor, which would have prevented him from participating in football activities.

It remains unclear whether Arnold will face discipline from the NFL. The league could place him on the commissioner’s exempt list, which would prevent him from practicing or playing during that period.

Later in the “Hard Knocks” episode, Schneider was seen doing his due diligence on Arnold and reviewing the team’s work on the cornerback ahead of the 2024 draft.

“Literally, this is one of the best interviews we’ve ever had,” Schneider said during a conversation with Seahawks vice president of player performance Sam Ramsden. “Like, the most fun. He was awesome.”

Arnold played in 24 games with the Lions, recording 91 tackles, 18 pass breakups, one interception and a fumble recovery.