Jermod McCoy has a chance to be one of the first cornerbacks selected in the 2026 NFL Draft, and his scouting report evaluates what makes McCoy one of the top cornerbacks in the draft class and how well his skill set might translate to the NFL.
Jermod McCoy Scouting Report
Measurables:
Height- 6’0″
Weight- 193 lbs
Background:
McCoy attended Whitehouse High School in Whitehouse, Texas, where he was a three-star recruit in the class of 2023. He committed to Oregon State and became a difference maker for the team right away, with two interceptions and seven pass deflections. McCoy transferred to Tennessee in 2024 and started all 13 games for the Volunteers. He led the team in both interceptions and pass deflections with four interceptions and nine pass deflections. McCoy earned All-SEC second team honors and was also named AP Second Team All-American and a Jim Thorpe Award semifinalist. During the 2025 offseason, McCoy suffered a torn ACL injury and did not play the entire 2025 season due to injury.
Strengths:
McCoy is an athletic cornerback with great movement skills. He is an extremely explosive athlete with fluid hips, great change of direction ability, and adequate long speed to effectively carry receivers vertically downfield. McCoy is one of the best man coverage cornerbacks in the 2026 draft class. He excels in press coverage and has good size, play strength, and arm length. McCoy plays with tremendous competitive toughness and is a physical defender. He has good instincts and ball skills, aggressively attacks the catch point, and has top-tier closing speed to disrupt passes. McCoy had four interceptions and nine pass deflections in 2024 and had a total of six interceptions and 16 pass deflections over two seasons. He is a willing tackler and a solid run defender as well.
Weaknesses:
How well he returns from the ACL injury is the biggest question for McCoy. He did not play at all during the 2025 season, and he also has just two years of playing experience in college. One of McCoy’s top traits is his physicality, but sometimes he can be too physical and grabby downfield, leading to penalties. In run support, McCoy is a willing tackler and a generally reliable tackler, but also has an inconsistent tackling technique and occasionally struggles to disengage from blocks.
Potential Team Fits:
NFL Projection:
The main concern with McCoy is the ACL injury and not playing in a game since the 2024 season. However, if he returns to pre-injury form, McCoy is one of the best defensive prospects in the draft. McCoy is an amazing athlete who shows a good understanding of the game, plays with a high motor, and has multiple years of great ball production in college. He is strong in both man coverage and in zone coverage, and is maybe the best press-man coverage cornerback in the 2026 draft class. With his explosiveness, change of direction speed, ball skills, and overall coverage ability, McCoy has a high ceiling as a prospect. McCoy has the ability to be a starting cornerback in his rookie season and has the potential to develop into a top-tier CB1 for an NFL team.
Prospect Grade:
First Round
Main Photo: Stephanie Amador / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
