Free fall over: Tennessee DB Jermod McCoy selected in fourth round
By David Wasson
Published:
The saga of Jermod McCoy and the 2026 NFL Draft came to a swift conclusion on Saturday, as the Tennessee defensive back was selected by the Las Vegas Raiders with the opening pick of the fourth round.
McCoy was taken with the 101st overall pick despite most draft analysts regarding him as a first-round talent. The major concern was McCoy’s recovery from a knee surgery that cost him the entirety of his 2025 season with the Volunteers.
McCoy was injured in an offseason workout just after the 2024 season, tearing the ACL in his right knee. Despite initial reports that he could return in time for the 2025 campaign, McCoy didn’t play another game for the Volunteers.
He turned in an impressive sub-4.4 40-yard dash at the Volunteers’ pro day in March, but NFL teams obviously still have concerns about McCoy’s knee – as his injury required a bone plug for the cartilage that might need to be replaced with another surgery.
It has been 490 days since McCoy last played in a game, and will be close to 600 days before he suits up for the Raiders in their 2026 preseason opener.
An APSE national award-winning writer and editor, David Wasson has almost four decades of experience in the print journalism business in Florida and Alabama. His work has also appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times and several national magazines and websites. His Twitter handle: @JustDWasson.
