Jermod McCoy has top 10 talent but one massive red flag for Chiefs to weigh

Injuries are one of the biggest wild cards in every NFL draft cycle. Every year, we see players fall in the draft unexpectedly due to medical red flags we may or may not know about. Last year, the Chiefs took a gamble on Josh Simmons’ health, and it paid off in a big way, as he seems to have locked down left tackle long term. Do the Chiefs take another chance on a true blue-chip talent with injury concerns?

Jermod McCoy tore his ACL in January of 2025 during a training session. It was always a question whether he would be able to play in the 2025 season due to his recovery and his draft status. McCoy was ranked as Dane Brugler’s 11th overall prospect even with the ACL injury in August. Between his rehab and Tennessee’s relevance in the College Football Playoff, McCoy never played for the Volunteers in 2025. That alone will spark discussion from teams and scouts about how much of that was a business decision and how much might be a medical red flag.

McCoy has as high a ceiling as any defender in this class; the question is how low the floor is, and at what point in the draft you are willing to take that gamble. Currently, there have been no reported complications with his ACL recovery.

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NFL Draft Profile: Jermod McCoy, Cornerback, Tennessee

Age: 20 (August 16th, 2005)

Height: 6-00

Weight: 195 LBS.

Tape Exposure: Ohio State (2024) and Alabama (2024)

Shades of: Denzel Ward

Jermod McCoy Background

A native of Tyler, Texas, McCoy attended Whitehouse High School (the same alma mater as Patrick Mahomes). McCoy was ranked as a consensus four-star recruit by 247 Sports. He played baseball and was a state champion track athlete in both the long jump and triple jump. McCoy began his college career at Oregon State, where he made an immediate impact by leading the Beavers in passes defended as a true freshman.

After transferring to Tennessee, he took his game to another level in 2024, earning All-America honors while pacing the team with 13 passes defended and four interceptions, and ranking third on the team in tackles with 44. McCoy declared for the NFL Draft on December 10 and is expected to be a full go for the NFL Combine.

What Makes him an elite talent?

Athletic Ability

As mentioned above, McCoy is a high-level closer who can run stride for stride with some of the best athletes in college football. In 2024, you can find him pacing down the field in standalone man coverage against Ryan Williams, Carnell Tate, and Jeremiah Smith. His background as a multi-sport athlete shows, and his closing speed at the catch point is a major strength.

Versatility

McCoy can be used in many different ways in coverage. He is long and strong enough to play press man coverage and disrupt receivers at the line of scrimmage. His ball skills and closing speed make him effective in off-man and zone coverage as well. He plays the ball well in the air as a former high school receiver and plays with enough strength in both the run and pass game.

Upside

Still just 20 years old on draft day, with an ideal frame, a multi-sport athletic background, and only two seasons of college football played, McCoy is an athletic ball of clay that front offices and scouts will view as a high-upside gamble with plenty of room to develop into a top-end corner during his rookie contract. McCoy already has the tape and talent of a first-round pick and has the potential to be one of the top players in the class.

Concerns for McCoy

Medicals

It’s obvious, but the ACL recovery needs to be verified and closely monitored. If he can test at the combine, it will be a massive part of his draft process, showing teams that he’s healthy. That’s the only injury he’s had, so it’s not a massive part of his overall profile, but going over a full year without playing football is something to consider before investing a first-round pick.

Catch Point

While McCoy tracks the ball well in the air, he has struggled at times to get his head around at the catch point. He drew a costly penalty against Jeremiah Smith in the College Football Playoff because of this. He needs to turn his back to the receiver more consistently to better translate those ball skills. He can also experience some mismatch issues against larger receivers. The difference between fighting for the ball against Ryan Williams (6-00, 178 lbs.) versus Jeremiah Smith (6-3, 225 lbs.) is clear on tape.

Is Jermod McCoy worth the risk for the Chiefs?

Last year, the Chiefs landed a top talent in the draft thanks to questionable medicals. Do they do it again? The key difference here is that Josh Simmons fell to pick 32, while selecting McCoy would require a top pick in the first round. McCoy has the potential to be one of the best cover corners in the league on the outside. A Derek Stingley or Patrick Surtain–level impact is something the Chiefs have missed since having Trent McDuffie and L’Jarius Sneed together. That said, the Chiefs have found strong cornerback talent on Day 2 and Day 3 of the draft. Is McCoy a smart investment?

With just two years of tape, McCoy has displayed all the traits of a top outside corner prospect. His athleticism, ability to mirror and match in man coverage, and physical nature in press coverage make him one of the top corner talents in the class. With medical clearance, he is a true blue-chip prospect.

Round Grade: Blue Chip (top 10 pick)