Bengals draft target Jermod McCoy reportedly has a huge red flag ahead of the NFL Draft

Dec 21, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith (4) catches a touchdown pass against Tennessee Volunteers defensive back Jermod McCoy (3) in the second half at Ohio Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Samantha Madar/USA Today Network via Imagn Images | Samantha Madar/USA Today Network via Imagn Images

With the Cincinnati Bengals in desperate need of knocking this No. 10 pick out of the park next Thursday, one would think they cannot afford to take a risk as big as drafting Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy in Round 1.

McCoy missed all of the 2025 season with a torn ACL. After what happened with Shemar Stewart in 2025, not to mention the busts that Cedric Ogbuehi and John Ross turned into after tearing their ACLs in college, the Bengals can’t take a risk and draft McCoy at No. 10, right?

As if the risk wasn’t already high enough, we’ve now got a report of a potential issue with McCoy’s knee ahead of next week’s draft.

Tony Pauline of Essentially Sports wrote the following about McCoy:

“I’m told that red flags were raised after teams deemed McCoy’s knee to be a degenerative condition. But, of course, medical opinions differ team by team since there is no central body to govern a physical.”

Now, the Bengals did draft Ja’Marr Chase after he didn’t play in 2020 due to opting out with COVID-19 heavily impacting the college football season. But that’s different. Chase was healthy. He just didn’t want to play with COVID-19 casting a dark cloud over the entire country. That pick has turned out to be great.