For Tennessee fans, countless eyes are going to be on standout cornerback Jermod McCoy this week. Despite missing all of last season due to a torn ACL, the expectation has been that he's going to be a first-round pick in the upcoming NFL Draft.
This week, though, plenty of alarms went off when reports leaked that teams had 'red flags' over McCoy's medical records and that a fall to Day 2 could be on the way. ESPN's Jordan Reid doesn't seem too worried about that, as he dropped his latest mock draft and he's got McCoy going No. 15 overall to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This indeed would be a dream come true for McCoy if things go down this way.
Tennessee star Jermod McCoy is hoping to hear his named called come draft night
"Tampa Bay has major question marks in its cornerbacks room," Reid wrote in his new mock draft. "Jamel Dean signed with the Steelers this offseason, Zyon McCollum didn't play to his potential after signing a long-term extension, and Benjamin Morrison was highly inconsistent as a rookie. So, adding McCoy makes sense, especially with GM Jason Licht's penchant for taking the best player available even if it doesn't seem like the team's biggest need on the surface (see: Emeka Egbuka last year). McCoy missed last season with a torn ACL but has shown true shutdown ability when healthy."
If Reid ends up being spot on with this prediction here, McCoy would be the second stud cornerback taken off the board. In Reid's mock draft, he has LSU's Mansoor Delane going to New Orleans with the No. 8 pick. So, is McCoy going to end up being a Top 15 pick?
We won't know for sure until Thursday night, but he sure has what it takes to be a total stud in the NFL. During his sophomore year in 2024, McCoy posted 26 solo tackles and four interceptions. He was expected to be one of the top defensive playmakers in the SEC in 2025, but his season was lost due to his serious knee injury.
After wrapping up the 2024 campaign, McCoy made his way home to Texas in the winter and he hurt himself while working out. It was not only a brutal setback for him, but also one for the Tennessee defense. From start to finish last year, the Vols sure missed not having McCoy in action.
He's not the only Tennessee cornerback expected to get drafted high, though, as Colton Hood is a fringe first-round pick. In Reid's mock, he has Hood, a former Colorado transfer, going No. 29 overall to the Kansas City Chiefs. That'd be a great landing spot for him, no question.
"The Chiefs have a huge hole at corner after Trent McDuffie (trade) and Jaylen Watson (free agency) were lost to the Rams," Reid said. "Hood is a polished technician who is capable of playing man, but his eye discipline in zone also stood out last season. His ability to play a mixture of coverages fits the Chiefs' scheme, and Hood has the skill set to be an immediate starter in Kansas City."
Soon enough, we'll see how things go down, but it sure looks like Tennessee could have two playmakers get taken off the board come Thursday night in Pittsburgh. And if that ends up being the case, it'd be a recruiting tool Josh Heupel can put in his back pocket as well.
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