Full Breakdown
Jermod McCoy’s Fourth-Round Selection Marks a Dramatic Draft-Day Slide
4/26/2026, 11:22:38 AM
Raiders Secure McCoy with First Fourth-Round Pick
On Day 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft, the Las Vegas Raiders selected Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy with the 101st overall pick, the first selection of the fourth round. The pick followed a slide from a projected top-10 slot, prompting the Raiders to trade up for a perceived value play.
Background: All-SEC Honors and Medical Concerns
McCoy earned All-SEC honors in 2024, posting six interceptions, 75 tackles and 14 pass deflections across Oregon State and Tennessee. He missed the 2025 season after a torn ACL and a cartilage-defect repair involving a bone plug, prompting medical concerns.
Key Figures & Groups
The central figures are cornerback Jermod McCoy, the Las Vegas Raiders, Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel, NFL Network analysts Daniel Jeremiah and Tom Pelissero, and a key anonymous AFC South area scout.
Data & Statistics
CBS Sports listed McCoy as the No. 1 defensive back and sixth overall prospect. At his 2026 pro day he ran a 4.37-second 40-yard dash, 38-inch vertical and 10-foot-7-inch broad jump. He recorded six interceptions, 75 tackles and 14 pass deflections in college.
Official Statements & Responses
The Raiders called the selection a high-value pick, noting the need to boost a secondary that produced only eight interceptions in 2025. Coach Heupel praised McCoy’s recovery and readiness, while analysts highlighted his speed, movement and ball skills as Day-1 material.
Criticism & Opposition
Medical reports flagged the cartilage-defect repair and bone-plug as a possible long-term risk, with some doctors warning of future surgery and an extensive rehabilitation timeline, casting doubt on McCoy’s durability.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Rarely do you find true blue-chip cornerbacks, and when one falls to you, it’s an easy decision to take them off the board,” — Anonymous AFC South area scout
- “I made a big impact the year that I played. I just feel like my ability to make plays, that’s what I’m gonna continue to do.” — Jermod McCoy, NFL Combine
- “There is a possibility that he is going to slip in this draft because of the knee that kept him out last season,” — Tom Pelissero, NFL Network
- “McCoy has the speed, movement and ball skills to start Day 1,” — Daniel Jeremiah, NFL Network analyst
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the knee problem: CBS Sports cites a cartilage defect requiring a bone plug, while other reports describe a distinct injury and extensive rehab. The Raiders have not publicly addressed the medical assessment.
What’s Next
The Raiders aim to improve a secondary that logged only eight interceptions in 2025. McCoy will compete for a starting cornerback role in training camp, with his pro-day speed a key factor for the upcoming season.
