Jermod McCoy finally hears his name called in the NFL Draft

Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy’s long wait is over.

Considered a top-15 talent in the 2026 NFL Draft, medical concerns over a knee injury suffered ahead of the season saw the talented cornerback slide out of the first round, and then out of the second day entirely. When the fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft began McCoy was still available, and some were wondering if his slide would continue.

The Las Vegas Raiders put an end to that, moving up one spot at the start of the fourth round to make McCoy their newest cornerback.

Again, based on the film McCoy put down during the 2024 season at Tennessee, he is one of the top players in this class. Take this example, an interception against Alabama in the end zone:

I love everything about this play. One of McCoy’s strengths, in my viewing, is his patience in press coverage situations. He does not panic when a receiver tries to stress his leverage, but rather he waits … and then strikes. That is exactly what he does here, timing his jam to perfection before getting his eyes to the football.

Here is another example, which comes on a 4th-and-2 situation against Florida. McCoy is aligned at the bottom of the screen:

He is giving the wide receiver this slant route, and again he does not panic when the receiver cuts inside of him. That’s when he gets his jam on the WR, gets his eyes to the quarterback, and then gets his hand to the football.

Another slant route with McCoy aligned at the bottom of the screen:

Again, no panic here. The receiver gets him to open up to the sideline when McCoy’s outside leverage is threatened, but he stays calm, gets to the receiver’s hip, and closes on the throw for another pass breakup.

Take note of the ball skills on this interception against Vanderbilt:

It is plays like this that made McCoy one of the top-graded players on any board.

Now, the medical concerns are serious. Between the ACL surgery that ended his 2025 season before it began, to the recent reports that he might need a second surgery to repair a “bone plug” that was put into his knee, there is a risk here for the Raiders.

But to get him at the top of the fourth round? That is tremendous value for Las Vegas. And with the Raiders going through a rebuild, the organization can take its time with McCoy, and even make 2026 a redshirt season for him so he can get back to 100%.

Because as far as talent goes? He’s one of the best in the class.