Colts GM Chris Ballard defends interest in arrested CB Terrion Arnold

WESTFIELD — Colts general manager Chris Ballard tried to characterize the team’s offseason interest in former Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold as part of an effort to leave no stone unturned.

Arnold’s agent, Nicole Lynn, told a Florida court that the Colts were one of four teams who’d expressed interest in Arnold, who is awaiting trial on felony kidnapping and robbery charges after a June arrest.

Houston worked out Arnold in July, and Lynn also said the Seahawks and Jets were interested.

“We look at every player that hits the market,” Ballard said. “Every player.”

Ballard defended the team’s interest by saying that Arnold’s guilt hasn’t been determined yet.

Arnold was arrested June 24 and charged with four counts of kidnapping and four counts of armed robbery in relation to a February kidnapping and assault of three men prosecutors say Arnold believes were involved in a robbery of over $250,000 of worth of goods from his rental home in Largo, Florida.

The Lions cut Arnold on June 29, hours after a Florida judge granted him a $1 million bond in the case.

Arnold has an arraignment hearing set for Aug. 13, according to a report by Fox Sports reporter Greg Auman.

“He hasn’t been convicted,” Ballard said. “You’ve got to dig into those issues, and unfortunately, people get charged in the court of public opinion before it goes through the court system. We have to be able to do our research on every single player. Same thing in the draft. We do our research on every single player.”

Indianapolis does not have a glaring need at cornerback. Former Pro Bowlers Sauce Gardner and Charvarius Ward are expected to start on the outside, 2025 third-round pick Justin Walley is expected to take over the slot and Indianapolis has plenty of experience behind them. Mekhi Blackmon, Jonathan Edwards, Jaylon Jones and Cameron Mitchell all played for the Colts last season, and Indianapolis added former Bengals starter Cam Taylor-Britt to the mix in free agency this offseason.

Joel A. Erickson  and  Nathan Brown  cover the  Colts   all season. Get more coverage on  IndyStarTV  and with the  Colts Insider newsletter .

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Colts GM Chris Ballard defends interest in arrested CB Terrion Arnold

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