Jermod McCoy finally taken by Raiders: Why CB fell in NFL draft
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Jermod McCoy finally taken by Raiders: Why CB fell in NFL draft
Chris Bumbaca, USA TODAY·USA TODAY Sports
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2 min read
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Jermod McCoy's extensive time as the 2026 NFL Draft's "best player available" ended almost immediately on Day 3. With the first pick of the fourth round, theLas Vegas Raidersselected the formerTennesseecornerback with the 101st overall pick.
McCoy was a consensus first-round talent who slipped all the way to the No. 101 because of concerns surrounding his injured knee. The Texas native underwent surgery for a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in January 2025 and he missed the entire subsequent college football season.
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McCoy put short-term concerns regarding the knee by participating in Tennessee's pro day in March. He ran at 4.37 seconds in the 40-yard dash, which would've tied for the second-fastest time among cornerbacks at the NFL combine.
By snagging McCoy, the Raiders are gaining a 6-1, 188-pound man-coverage specialist who has "superlative ball skills and ample tools to stick with receivers throughout their routes," according to USA TODAY Sports NFL draft guru Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz.
TheKansas City Chiefstraded up to take Louisiana State cornerback Mansoor Delane No. 6 overall on April 23. Many draft analysts and experts considered McCoy a similar caliber of player. McCoy's teammate, Colton Hood, went 37th overall to the New York Giants.
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McCoy started his college career at Oregon State, where he played one season (2023).
McCoy joins a secondary that includesTaron Johnsonas the slot corner and outside cornersEric StokesandDarien Porter. The Raiders addressed the secondary earlier in the draft by picking safetyTreydan Stukesin the second round (38th overall).
