After a remarkable 2024 campaign, Jermod McCoy appeared to be well on his way to becoming a first-round NFL prospect.
Then the Tennessee cornerback tore his ACL in his right knee during offseason workouts, forcing him to miss all of last season. He then declared for the NFL Draft, so teams didn’t get to see him on field, back to full health, before deciding if they want to draft him.
But McCoy put a lot of concerns behind him when he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.38 seconds at Tennessee’s pro day. With more than a year to recover, his explosiveness had returned.
And with it, so did his draft stock.
Jermod McCoy NFL Draft Projection
I project Jermod McCoy will be selected by the Carolina Panthers with the 19th pick in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
I could see McCoy’s injury history being a little bit of a concern and therefore he falls a few picks. But I don’t think he makes it to the 20s. The Panthers’ secondary could use some help, and this would make it much stronger.
Jermod McCoy’s 40 Time
Jermod McCoy ran the 40-yard dash in 4.38 seconds at his pro day, which would’ve tied for second among cornerbacks and would’ve been top 20 among all players at the NFL Combine. He also recorded a broad jump of 10 feet, 7 inches and a vertical jump of 38 inches.
These were undoubtedly critical numbers for McCoy to post.
Jermod McCoy was measured at 6 feet, 1 inch and 188 pounds at the combine.
Jermod McCoy Stats & Highlights
Before McCoy was an All-American at Tennessee, he thrived at Oregon State as a freshman.
He played in 12 games and was first on the team with seven passes defended in 2023. He recorded 31 tackles, seven pass breakups, and two interceptions that season.
McCoy then transferred and was a second-team All-American for the Volunteers. He paced the team with 13 passes defended – which tied for fourth in the SEC and fourth among all underclassmen in the nation – with four picks and nine PBUs. He added 44 tackles, which was third-most on the team.
He missed his junior season due to his offseason knee injury.
Where Is Jermod McCoy From?
Jermod McCoy is from Whitehouse, Texas.
He was a three-star prospect at Whitehouse High School.
Jermod McCoy NFL Draft Profile & Comparison
My NFL comparison for Jermod McCoy is Stephon Gilmore. I’m not the first person to make that comparison, but there’s certainly some similarities.
McCoy’s injury history will be a concern, but if NFL teams are certain that the torn ACL is behind him, they very well may see him as a top-15 prospect.
An All-SEC cornerback, he allowed just one touchdown in 2024 after 640 snaps played. His Pro Football Focus grade of 89.6 was third among SEC cornerbacks and ninth in the FBS.
McCoy has excellent quickness, which makes gaining any sort of separation difficult for defenders. And when the ball is in the air, McCoy has exceptional closing speed and has a nose for the ball.
McCoy also showcased great anticipation. He can read offenses and acts instinctively, which led to a high number of turnovers and passes broken up.
McCoy isn’t a small corner, either, and is physical enough to help with run support.
McCoy is all-around a great cornerback who could end up being a standout player at the next level.
