Why Jermod McCoy still falling in 2026 NFL Draft despite first-round grade

Why Jermod McCoy still falling in 2026 NFL Draft despite first-round grade

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that teams in the 2026 NFL Draft are worried about Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy's longevity due to a knee injury that sidelined him for the Vols last season.

Despite being projected as a top-15 pick, McCoy remains the best undrafted player available after the first 48 selections of the draft on April 24. His UT teammate, cornerback Colton Hood, was selected by the New York Giants with the 37th pick.

"(McCoy) clearly is a first-round talent but suffered a knee injury where he tore his ACL, underwent surgery. And obviously there are some teams that have some concerns about that knee right now," Schefter reported during the second round. "People think he can step in and impact a roster right away, but there are questions about his longevity in the league.

"For right now, we have a situation where he's still on the board, one of the elite talents in this draft in a spot that nobody thought he would be."

McCoy was an All-American in the 2024 season. But he suffered a torn ACL during a training session in January 2025 and did not play for the Vols in the 2025 season. His last game was Dec. 21, 2024 against Ohio State in the College Football Playoff.

At Tennessee’s pro day in March, he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.37 seconds, which would've tied for the second-fastest time among cornerbacks at the NFL scouting combine. It appeared to be a good sign, but there are obviously still concerns about his knee.

Adam Sparks is the Tennessee football beat reporter. Email . X, formerly known as Twitter* .*