A first-round talent whose ACL tear turned him into the Raiders' biggest fourth-round steal of the 2026 draft.
Jermod McCoy arrives in Las Vegas as a cornerback many draft analysts had pegged for Round 1 before medical concerns sent him tumbling to Day 3. The Raiders traded up to grab him anyway, betting that his 2024 tape at Tennessee, four interceptions, nine pass breakups, and All-SEC recognition, outweighs the risk tied to his surgically repaired knee.
Path to the league
McCoy began his college career at Oregon State in 2023, starting five of 12 games and picking off two passes. He transferred to Tennessee for 2024, where he broke out as a full-time starter, and general manager John Spytek traded the No. 102 pick plus a 2027 seventh-round selection to Buffalo to move up and take McCoy at No. 101 overall in the 2026 draft.
Career highlights
McCoy's 2024 season at Tennessee was the best of his college career: 44 tackles and four interceptions across 13 games, earning him Second-team All-American and Second-team All-SEC honors. That performance had him in first-round conversations entering the 2026 draft cycle.
2025 season recap
McCoy tore his ACL in January and missed the entire 2025 season, forgoing his final year of college eligibility to enter the draft. Reports of a degenerative knee issue independent of the ACL tear contributed to his slide into Round 4, and he faces questions about whether he will need a second surgery even after signing with the Raiders.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Jermod McCoy
- ESPN: Jermod McCoy
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Cornerback
- Group
- defense
- College
- Tennessee
- Hometown
- Whitehouse, TX, USA
- Age
- 20
- Status
- active
