The biggest story from last night’s NFL Draft may have been Tennessee star cornerback Jermod McCoy falling out of the first round. The former Vol was on a top-10 trajectory, but an ACL tear last January derailed his momentum. He missed the entire 2025 season, and with medical evaluations still raising concerns about potential cartilage damage in his knee, NFL teams ultimately backed off.
3 Jermod McCoy landing spots after his heartbreaking NFL Draft snub in Round 1
While it’s understandable that teams are concerned about the long-term health of Jermod McCoy’s knee, his performance still speaks for itself. He ran a sub-4.4 40-yard dash at Tennessee’s pro day, and ultimately, the tape doesn’t lie. In 2024, he dominated the SEC, earning second-team All-America honors and becoming a semifinalist for the Thorpe Award. He recorded four interceptions and 14 passes defended, and from a measurables standpoint, he checks every box. At 6-foot with elite athleticism, it’s surprising he fell as far as he did, even with the medical concerns.
Tennessee fans react to Jermod Mccoy's fall
Jermod McCoy and Colton Hood fall out of the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft
— Vol Scoops (@VolScoops) April 24, 2026
Would’ve been huge for the Vols to get a first round pick tonight
It’s insane the DB duo never got to play together at Tennessee
Tennessee will have multiple picks tonight, and some could end up being long time NFL stars.
The Vols had two projected picks in the #NFLDraft…
— Tri-Star Network (@TriStarNetwork) April 24, 2026
But Jermod McCoy and Colton Hood remain on the board headed into Day 2.
Both should be second round locks, along with Chris Brazzell II. 🔒
Some teams are about to get absolute steals! 👀🍊 pic.twitter.com/5fM8CVI2mS
Colton Hood and Jermod McCoy both falling out of the first round is absolutely criminal
— Big Orange Energy (@BigOrangeEnergy) April 24, 2026
Tennessee corners Jermod McCoy and Colton Hood will be some of the top names taken in the 2nd round of the NFL Draft.
— More Important Issues (@More_Issues) April 24, 2026
Some fans have wondered if Jermod McCoy should have sat out last year. There were reports he might have been able to play, but nothing has been fully confirmed.
It’s almost like McCoy sitting out an entire season when he was good to go hurt his draft stock. These kids gotta quit listening to agents who milk them for as many dimes as they can.
— Buccin’ Vol (@Fisherjw95) April 24, 2026
NFL execs antsy about him sitting for over a year without getting hit. Should have tried to play the last two games if he was healthy.
— Jimmy Thomas (@spartacus_69) April 24, 2026
If McCoy even plays just the last 3 or 4 games instead of sitting out 🤔
— Mike Jehle (@THEKID_) April 24, 2026
Even the national media chimed on McCoy's round one snub on Thursday night
One of the biggest media members in college football, Chris Low, offered a really nice perspective on McCoy. Low thinks that he is a terrific player.
Sure hope Jermod McCoy uses this for motivation. Awful luck. Tore his ACL training last January, unable to return for 2025 season, ran a fast 40 at Tennessee’s pro day but slid out of first round after questions surfaced about possibly needing another surgery. Terrific player.
— Chris Low (@Clowfb) April 24, 2026
Different doctors chimed in on McCoy and his knee. His medicals do offer a gamble, but he also offers an immense amount of upside.
Medical is why #JermodMcCoy predictably fell out of 1st round https://t.co/dmP6dKGyN7
— David J. Chao - ProFootballDoc (@ProFootballDoc) April 24, 2026
That Jermod McCoy medical flag about possibly requiring a cartilage graft (likely similar to recent Trevon Diggs situation) must be scaring teams off of him.
— Jeff Mueller, PT, DPT (@jmthrivept) April 24, 2026
At some point the gamble will be worth it, but it might be Rd3 or late Rd2. https://t.co/BQe0F4hVfP
CBs, LBs, and EDGE rushers will fly off of the board early tonight. Lots of good players left on Day 2:
— Jordan Reid (@Jordan_Reid) April 24, 2026
• Jermod McCoy
• Cashius Howell
• Colton Hood
• Avieon Terrell
• Zion Young
• Gabe Jacas
• CJ Allen
• Jacob Rodriguez
• TJ Parker
• D’Angelo Ponds
• Brandon Cisse
Friday night steal
At this point, whichever team takes Jermod McCoy is probably getting a steal. How often do you get a true top-10 talent in the second round? It’s hard to imagine he’ll be waiting long, but then again, it’s the NFL Draft, anything can happen. I cannot wait to see McCoy next fall because he will use this as fire and have a chip on his shoulder. This could go down as a big draft blunder in years to come.
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