The New York Jets received some very concerning news about potential target Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy in the 2026 NFL draft.
NFL Insider Connor Hughes of SNY revealed that, “Four different teams told SNY they flagged his knee, which he tore in January. One team told SNY they have taken him off their board entirely.”
McCoy, 20, will turn 21 before the start of his rookie season in the NFL. The talented defensive back did not participate in this past college football season because he tore his ACL during training in January of 2025, per Chad Reuter of the NFL Media Group.
NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero shared some more details on the McCoy situation:
“As for another injury that we are going to be monitoring closely, Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy, who did not play at all last season, has certainly drawn a lot of scrutiny from the NFL medical people in the pre-draft process. There is a possibility that he is going to slip in this draft because of the knee that kept him out last season. Let’s talk about what this is and what it is not. It’s not the ACL that he had reconstructed,” Pelissero said on “Path to the Draft.”
“My understanding is the ACL itself is fine, all the scans look good. The concern is about a bone plug that was used to repair a cartilage defect in his knee. Some of the doctors who have seen his scans are concerned tha the will need another surgery to replace that bone plug, which would be an extensive recovery,” Pelissero explained.
A Potential Steal for the Green-and-White
Pelissero said McCoy is a “top 10 talent” that might not go in that range or even in the first round.
NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport added, “It’s not a discussion if he is going to play next year, is he going to be okay. Teams are unanimous, he is going to be fine. It’s just about long-term, which is why when Tom mentions him slipping, it’s like how many contracts is he going to be able to play.”
On the consensus big board, McCoy is ranked as the 15th best player in April’s draft and the No. 2-ranked cornerback.
Another Potential Path…
ESPN’s Rich Cimini noted that the Jets hosted McCoy for a 30-visit this offseason.
“Presumably, the Jets wanted McCoy in their building to re-check his surgically repaired knee. He tore his ACL in January 2025, costing him the entire 2025 season. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.4 seconds at his recent pro day, and he has the size (6-foot-1) that coach Aaron Glenn likes in his corners. He’s projected as a likely first rounder,” Cimini wrote.
If the Jets didn’t like what they saw, perhaps they could grab the other corner from Tennessee in Colton Hood.
Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic said, “There’s been some buzz” connecting the Jets to Hood in this pre-draft process. If the Jets want him, they may have to take him earlier than anyone is currently projecting.
NFL Insider Connor Hughes of SNY revealed that, “There’s top-20, top-15 buzz around him now. With McCoy falling, he’s considered by most to be the No. 2 cornerback in the draft behind LSU’s Mansoor Delane.”
The Jets hold the No. 16 overall pick in the first round.
Jets Get Concerning News About Top Draft Target