The Las Vegas Raiders have had a great draft thus far and have added first-round talent in the fourth round by selecting Tennessee CB Jermod McCoy with pick No. 101.
The Las Vegas Raiders have had an incredible start to the 2026 National Football League draft and are addressing immediate roster needs.
It started how we all believed it would, with the Raiders selecting Indiana quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza with the first-overall pick.
That pick was followed by one of the top safeties in the draft, Arizona safety Treydan Stukes, who is highly regarded as a quick and versatile player who likely fills in as the long-term nickelback. He was selected with the 38th pick.
With the 67th pick, the Raiders shored up the defensive line by drafting Auburn edge rusher Keyron Crawford. Crawford should be able to contribute right away even with star Maxx Crosby being on the team still.
With its second third-round selection, Las Vegas picked Texas A&M center Trey Zuhn III with the 91st pick. He was a four-year starter as an Aggie and was first-team All-SEC and won the Jacobs Blocking Trophy last season.
And with its most recent pick to kick off the fourth round, the Raiders selected Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy with pick No. 101. McCoy has first-round talent and more than likely would have gone within the first 10-to-15 picks, but his injury concerns made him slip down draft boards.
McCoy didn’t play in 2025 due to an ACL tear, but that isn’t what scared teams out of selecting him; it was reported by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport that McCoy is dealing with a degenerative knee issue.
“It is not the ACL that he had repaired, it seems like the ACL is fine,” Rapoport said Saturday. “It is actually a cartilage and meniscus issue in his knee…a bone plug in his knee may be failing, he may need a second surgery and there are concerns if he plays, if he is able to play long enough to get a second contract.”
It’s heartbreaking for anyone to have their career in jeopardy before it has taken off, but especially for a kid who is as talented as McCoy. In 2024, McCoy led Tennessee in passes defended (13) and was tied for the lead in interceptions (four), a testament to his size, speed, IQ and ability to read routes.
ESPN’s Matt Miller compared McCoy to New England Patriots Pro Bowl CB Christian Gonzalez, who is one of the best defensive backs in the entire NFL.
The Raiders got tremendous value by landing McCoy in the fourth round, but there are concerns about how long he will be able to play and be an impactful player.