A former Detroit Lions running back says Terrion Arnold’s arrest could carry major financial consequences, with the cornerback’s guaranteed money potentially at risk depending on how the case plays out.
Zach Zenner, who played in Detroit from 2015-2018 and now works as a public speaker, nutritionist and NFL agent, pointed to the contract language that can allow teams to void guarantees tied to conduct issues. Arnold, a former first-round pick, was charged and arrested in an alleged robbery and kidnapping case.
“Terrion Arnold's imprisonment, released by the Lions, posting million dollar bail, all that has been dominated in the news these past couple of days. Certainly sending support his way, no matter which way this goes, because he's already lost a lot,” said Zenner. “And one of those things maybe his guaranteed money.”
Arnold signed a four-year, $14,343,710 fully guaranteed contract in 2024, including a $7,251,788 signing bonus. He had a little less than $5 million due in guarantees over the next two years.
As Zenner put it on social media, “One of the interesting things about the story, for me, is the implications this has on this contract, because first round picks receive guaranteed money. And Tarrant Arnold was due $4.8 million in guarantees over the next two years. There is small part of the contract that those guarantees can be voided for violating the NFL's personal code of conduct policy.”
He added, “Which can happen, or you can be found guilty of violating that policy, whether you're convicted or not. The hope for his sake, of course, is that he wasn't involved, that he gets cleared of all wrongdoing.
But, if he was arrested and spent some time in jail, he's probably involved in some way. And that then allows the Lions to not fulfill on his guarantees and potentially even claw back some of the guarantees that they gave him.”
If Detroit tries to recover additional money, Arnold would have the right to challenge that move.
Arnold has officially been placed on waivers and is scheduled for his next court date on July 10 in Florida.
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