Jermod McCoy signs rookie contract

McCoy missed 2025 while recovering from a torn ACL. He was supposed to be good to go for his first NFL season, but reports of him possibly needing a second knee surgery, unrelated to the ACL, caused his draft stock to plummet. After beginning the draft cycle with first-round dreams, McCoy fell all the way to the top of the fourth round, where the Raiders moved up one spot to select him. A second surgery would likely result in a redshirt 2026 season. Even Fowler notes that the team still needs to “get him in the building for the offseason program and see how he’s progressing.” For now, it’s a waiting game to see what the Raiders will get out of McCoy in his rookie season.

The Bills received the No. 102 pick and a seventh-round pick as the Raiders moved up one spot to take McCoy. Expected to be a day one pick, McCoy slid in the draft amidst concerns over his ACL injury and subsequent reports indicating he might need an additional surgery to address the issue. JMcCoy (6’0/193) sustained a torn ACL in January 2025 which kept him out of action this year, but he turned in a polished and well-rounded 2024 campaign, earning an 89.6 PFF coverage grade that underscored his ability to stay connected, squeeze throwing windows, and finish at the catch point. Opposing quarterbacks targeted him 62 times, completing just 31 passes (50.0 percent) for 386 yards, as McCoy complemented ball skills with disruption, logging 4 interceptions and 6 PBUs. His tackling efficiency adds an additional dimension, as he missed only 4 attempts (7.0 percent) while generating 11 stops, contributing to a solid 79.0 PFF tackling grade. Overall, McCoy’s 2024 profile reads like a high-IQ, ball-productive cover corner with sticky man traits and efficient tackling. However, lingering concerns about the condition of his surgically repaired knee cloud his overall draft projection.

Pelissero echoed NFL insider Jordan Schultz’s phrasing from a report issued earlier today, saying it sounds like the 49ers are “very open” to fielding trade offers for the No. 33 overall pick. Pelissero mentions Ohio State DT Kayden McDonald, Washington WR Denzel Boston, Miami QB Carson Beck and Tennessee CBs Colton Hood and Jermod McCoy as possible targets.

McCoy’s ACL is fine and the scans look good. But some team doctors, per Pelissero, think McCoy might need another surgery to replace the bone plug used to repair a cartilage defect in his knee — that would be a long recovery. Thus, McCoy — a first-round pick in most mocks — feels like he could tumble down draft boards on Thursday. Or maybe even Friday.

Dehner believes that McCoy’s 2025 missed season due to ACL tear wouldn’t cause the Bengals to take McCoy off their board, which is a real point in his favor at this spot given how medical opinions vary. McCoy has clear-cut athleticism and traits to be a top-end corner, but the lack of a 2025 season is going to make him feel like a little bit of a gamble at No. 10 overall. Unfortunately, that’s just this draft; pretty much everyone is a bit of a gamble and there are very few sure-fire top-10 pick-quality players.