Jermod McCoy Talks Injury Concerns, NFL Draft Slide After Raiders Selection in Round 4

Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy acknowledged he expected to go much earlier in the 2026 NFL draft than the fourth round, where he landed with the Las Vegas Raiders.

McCoy was the No. 11 overall player in Bleacher Report's final big board, but questions over his long-term durability led him to fall to Day 3. He suffered a torn ACL in January 2025.

"All of my doctors that did my surgery told me [that] I'm good," McCoy told reporters Sunday. "But if there's something that [the Raiders] want me to do for the longevity of my career, I'm willing to do that because I feel like they have my best interest."

The former Vols star tried to take his slide in stride.

"I was prepared for whatever, but I was [expected] to go higher," he said. "I had a good pro day, ran some good times and did some good things. … It's not in my control, and I'm just truly blessed that the team took me anyway, because it's an achievement to get here in the first place."

McCoy could potentially be a steal for Las Vegas.

B/R scout Daniel Harms compared him to three-time Pro Bowler Joe Haden.

"Jumps off the screen with natural athleticism and physical presence on the boundary," Harms wrote in his scouting report. "Plays vertical routes with patience, consistent hand usage and the ability to mirror effectively."

Jermod McCoy highlights

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To say McCoy's health is a question mark would be an understatement, though. Yahoo Sports' Charles Robinson reported his entire career could hinge on the success a procedure to address his previous ACL reconstruction:

A fourth-round pick is too good to totally waste, but McCoy's upside justified the Raiders' gamble.