Jermod McCoy’s knee injury remains major wildcard going into NFL Draft

TL;DR

Jermod McCoy's knee injury raises concerns ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft, potentially impacting his draft position. Initially projected as a top-20 pick, he may now slide due to reports of a degenerative condition and possible additional surgery.

Key points

Jermod McCoy tore his ACL over 14 months ago.
He missed the entire 2025 season due to the injury.
Concerns about his knee have emerged after the NFL Combine.
Some teams label his knee issue as degenerative.
McCoy was initially projected between picks 10 and 20.

Jermod McCoyTennessee VolunteersOregon State BeaversNFL Draft 2026

Tennessee defensive back Jermod McCoy (3) celebrates after making a play during a college football game between Tennessee and Georgia at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga., on Saturday, November 16, 2024. | Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Now just a couple of days ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft, more and more questions are seeming to pop up about Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy. Just over 14 months ago now, McCoy tore his ACL during an offseason workout. The injury forced him to miss the entire 2025 season. Still, thanks to his elite 2024 season, NFL teams were still all over him heading into the offseason. However, following last month’s NFL Combine, questions are still lingering about the long-term status of his knee. Teams have likely known about this since the combine, but the media seemingly is catching up this week. According to a couple of reports, some teams have labeled McCoy’s knee issue as degenerative. Another report states that McCoy may need additional surgery to address a cartilage concern. Again, this certainly isn’t news to NFL teams. They’ve all done their medical evaluations and have all of the information they need at this point. How many teams have him on or off their board will likely become pretty obvious by Thursday night. Could McCoy be in for a draft night slide? That almost seems likely at this point, but it only takes one team to pull the trigger. Before this, McCoy was slated somewhere between picks 10 through 20. Now the possibility of him falling out of the first round seems to be very real. McCoy instantly became Tennessee’s top corner in 2024 after transferring in from Oregon State. As a redshirt sophomore, McCoy always found a way to get his hands on the football, usually in the biggest spots. Interceptions against , and Vanderbilt truly turned those games around for the Volunteers, who went on to land a spot in the College Football Playoff. The 6-1, 188 pound cornerback now becomes one of the most risk/reward players on the board — first round talent but immediate questions on availability and longevity.

Q&A

What is Jermod McCoy's injury status before the NFL Draft?

Jermod McCoy's knee injury is concerning, with reports suggesting it may be degenerative and that he could require additional surgery.

How might Jermod McCoy's injury affect his draft position?

McCoy, previously projected as a top-20 pick, may fall out of the first round due to his injury concerns.

What teams are interested in Jermod McCoy despite his injury?

While specific teams are not named, many NFL teams have shown interest in McCoy due to his elite performance in 2024.

Jermod McCoy’s knee injury remains major wildcard going into NFL Draft

TL;DR

Key points

Q&A

Related Articles

McDaniels jab: Nuggets are 'all bad defenders'

New outlook for MacIntyre but hot temper 'part of who I am'

F1's rule tweaks: What's changed after driver criticism, and will it make a difference?

2026 NFL Draft: Ranking the QB prospects based on Tom Fornelli's college football performance formula

County cricket talking points: old timers show that class is permanent

Sidney Crosby makes desperate call as Penguins fall 3-0 to Flyers

More from Sports