TribLive is highlighting the top prospects leading up to the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh. The three-day event is April 23-25.
Jermod McCoy
Position: Cornerback
Height/weight: 6-foot-1/188 pounds
College: Tennessee
McCoy could be the first cornerback drafted despite missing all of last season to a knee injury.
The All-SEC player sustained a right ACL tear during offseason training in January 2025, shortly after his standout sophomore year. McCoy had four interceptions, nine pass break ups and 44 tackles, earning him second-team All-American honors. He allowed two touchdowns on 393 coverage snaps, according to Pro Football Focus.
Draft analyst Lance Zierlein described McCoy in his NFL.com profile as a “toolsy outside corner with CB1 flashes,” but noted that his “average acceleration leaves him chasing too often on go routes.”
McCoy didn’t participate in the NFL Combine but likely alleviated concerns about his surgically repaired knee with a strong pro day. He posted an unofficial 4.38-second time in the 40-yard dash, a 38-inch vertical leap and a 10-foot, 7-inch broad jump.
Before transferring to Tennessee, he played 12 games for Oregon State as a true freshman in 2023. He had two interceptions, seven pass break ups and 31 tackles.
Key stat
94 — McCoy’s rating in “EA Sports College Football 26” when the video game was released last July. He was the game’s highest-rated cornerback at the time.
Did you know?
McCoy went to Whitehouse (Texas) High School, which also counts three-time Super Bowl champion quarterback Patrick Mahomes among its alumni.
On draft
Here is a look at where the top NFL Draft analysts rank McCoy among players at his position and prospects overall:
Draft expert — CB/Overall
Mel Kiper Jr. — first/16th
Daniel Jeremiah — second/15th
Todd McShay — second/18th
Field Yates — first/15th
Quotable
“I think the (draft) range for him is really big. It could be six to 20. This close to the draft, for a high-end player, that’s a really big range.”
— ESPN analyst Matt Miller