Jermod McCoy’s long wait to hear his name called at the 2026 NFL Draft finally ended early Saturday afternoon, when the Las Vegas Raiders made the Tennessee cornerback the first pick of the 4th round.
There was a lot of speculation as to why McCoy had to wait so long, and on Saturday morning, a few hours before he was taken by the Raiders, Yahoo Sports’ Charles Robinson reported that McCoy had a bone plug, which is when a piece of bone and cartilage is used to repair a degenerative cartilage. Robinson said in the same report that the bone plug might have to be replaced again, so everything centering around McCoy’s problematic knee issues likely led to him falling to a Day 3 pick, albeit the first pick of Day 3 at No. 101 overall on the draft board.
On Saturday, after the Raiders took a chance that McCoy’s knee problems wouldn’t keep him from having a successful career, McCoy talked to reporters during his availability about the reports that he could injure his knee again or need another surgery.
“I feel good. As far as another surgery, that would be strictly based on what the team wants me to do,” McCoy said. “Whatever the team’s plan for me is what I’ll be doing.”
McCoy wasn’t afraid to come clean on the status of his knee.
“All my doctors that did my surgery told me that I’m good,” McCoy said. “I feel like I’m good. But if the team wants me to do something for the longevity of my career, I’m willing to do that. I’m going to listen to the team because I feel like they have my best interests. Honestly, whatever the team’s plan is for me, I’m gonna do that.”
McCoy’s knee issues began during an innocent offseason workout after the 2024 season, when he tore the ACL in his right knee. Initial reports stated that McCoy could very possibly return for the 2025 season, but that never happened. McCoy never got back on the field for the Volunteers, and that left his draft status this weekend in some doubt.
The Raiders are in rebuild mode with the drafting of quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the first overall pick and with selections like McCoy. Here is what the Kalshi market is currently saying about the odds of the Raiders to contend for the AFC West title in 2026:
Cory Nightingale, a former sportswriter and sports editor at the Miami Herald and Palm Beach Post, is a South Florida-based freelance writer who covers Alabama for SaturdayDownSouth.com.
