Raiders cut first rounder Arnette

The Las Vegas Raiders waived 2020 first-round pick Damon Arnette and have now cut ties with both first-round picks from that draft before the midpoint of their second season because of off-field issues.

General manager Mike Mayock called it a “painful decision” to release Arnette on Monday but said it was necessary in response to a social media post with Arnette brandishing a gun and threatening to kill someone. Arnette was also being sued over a hitand-run accident from 2020.

“There have been a series of bad decisions over the last year or so, but we can’t stand for the video of Damon with a gun threatening to take a life,” Mayock said. “The content was unacceptable, contrary to our values and our owner Mark Davis has been very clear and very consistent that this is not how we will conduct ourselves in this community. The bottom line, the Raiders will not tolerate this type of behavior.”

Arnette was drafted 19th overall to be a starting cornerback with a pick acquired in the Khalil Mack trade despite what Mayock called “significant concerns” about his character. Arnette was rated lower on most draft rankings but the Raiders believed after talking to his coaches at Ohio State that they could develop him on and off the field.

“Obviously in hindsight, we weren’t able to do it,” Mayock said.

The move to cut Arnette comes less than a week after No. 12 overall pick Henry Ruggs III was released following a fatal DUI crash.

Odell Beckham Jr. is up for grabs. The challenging wide receiver, who has battled injuries the past few seasons, was waived Monday by the Cleveland Browns and can now be taken by any NFL team at a $7.25 million price tag for the rest of the season.

Beckham essentially forced his exit last week from the Browns, who traded for him 2 years ago but reached a point where they wanted to get out of the stormy relationship as badly as he did. The 29-year-old Beckham can be claimed on waivers but any team that takes him would have to pay his remaining salary.

KOne month after undergoing surgery on the middle finger of his throwing hand, Russell Wilson was back on the Seattle Seahawks’ practice field Monday, flinging passes. Barring a setback, Wilson should be back under center for the Seahawks on Sunday when they travel to Green Bay.