Jermod McCoy NFL Draft Fall: How Knee Injury Led to Day 3 Slide Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy entered the 2026 NFL Draft with first-round aspirations after a standout 2024 season that included four interceptions, nine pass breakups, and 44 tackles. Despite being ranked as a top-10 prospect by several analysts, McCoy slid to Day 3 of the draft due to significant injury concerns stemming from a torn ACL that ended his 2025 season. McCoy suffered the injury at the conclusion of the 2024 college football season and did not play in 2025. He also opted out of the NFL Scouting Combine, choosing instead to participate in team-specific workouts leading up to the draft. While his ACL has healed, medical evaluations revealed concerns about a bone plug used to repair a cartilage defect in his knee. Some doctors believe the plug may require replacement, potentially necessitating another surgery with an extensive recovery timeline. According to NFL Network reporting, teams have expressed “long-term” concerns about McCoy’s knee that extend beyond the ACL injury. There is apprehension that if a follow-up surgery is needed and unsuccessful, it could jeopardize his entire rookie season or even end his career. These fears contributed to McCoy going unpicked in the first three rounds before the Las Vegas Raiders traded up to select him with the first pick of Day 3, No. 101 overall. Prior to the draft, McCoy had been viewed as one of the best cornerbacks in the class, with CBS Sports draft analyst Mike Renner ranking him as the No. 6 overall prospect on his sizeable board. His athletic profile — including being a Texas state champion in the long jump and triple jump and an all-state baseball player — added to his appeal. But, the combination of a lost season and unresolved knee questions caused teams to hesitate, allowing him to fall to the fourth round where he was ultimately selected by the Raiders.
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