NFL insider explains Jermod McCoy's shocking slide in NFL Draft

Just a couple of weeks ago, Tennessee's Jermod McCoy was considered CB2 in the 2026 NFL Draft.

There was a point where he was the clear-cut best cornerback in this class.

That's why, even after watching him miss the 2025 season with an ACL injury, seeing him fall to the third day of the draft was a bit of a surprise. 

According to NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport, his ACL healed just fine. Nevertheless, he might need another knee surgery and could miss the entire 2026 season.

Jermod McCoy may need another knee surgery

“Obviously, McCoy did not play because of the ACL. That is not what this is about,” Rapoport said. “The ACL is fine. He did drills at a pro day, he is okay. This is about teams wondering if there are going to be long-term issues on his knee. And actually, colleague Tom Pelissero has also reported that the bone plug after knee surgery might need to be replaced, might need a second surgery. That is why he has fallen.”

While multiple teams could afford to have him sit for a year and get back to full strength, concerns about potential lingering knee issues have hurt his draft stock.

Of course, it shouldn't be much longer until someone rolls the dice on him, but doing so with a mid-round pick would make much more financial sense.

When healthy, McCoy has shown the traits to be an elite, shutdown corner at the next level.

That said, availability is the best ability. Given how many talented prospects have struggled to stay on the field and failed to live up to their lofty draft status, it makes sense that teams err on the side of caution here.