It’s fitting that the Raiders of Las Vegas were the team that finally took a gamble on cornerback Jermod McCoy. After sliding down the board, the Raiders took a swing on upside late on Day 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft, selecting McCoy as the first pick of Round 4 (No. 101). We’ll have to see how this pick ages for Las Vegas.
It is the kind of pick that can either look like a steal in two years or a gamble that never quite paid off. The talent is obvious. The question is health. McCoy missed the entire 2025 season after tearing his ACL in January and dealing with a bone plug repair, which pushed him down boards. Still, when a prospect with legit CB1 traits is sitting there on Day 3, teams are willing to bet on the long game.
Darius Slay Comparison Highlights Jermod McCoy’s Elite Ceiling
The excitement around McCoy starts with the kind of comparison that immediately grabs attention. Darius Slay is not a name thrown around lightly, but that is exactly where the evaluation went.
“If he’s healthy, this is a fringe top 10 player in the class,” said PFSN’s NFL draft analyst Ian Cummings on “Football Debate Club” live NFL draft show. “I see a lot of similarities between him and Darius Slay. It’s a lofty comp, but McCoy is a Darius Slay-like elite playmaker.”
That comparison centers on traits that are hard to teach. McCoy’s movement skills jump off the screen, especially his ability to flip his hips and stay attached in coverage. Cummings emphasized those same traits when explaining the Slay connection.
“I think the hip fluidity is hyper elite. I think the athletic profile is hyper elite.”
“If he’s healthy, this is a fringe top-10 player in the class.” 👀@IC_Draft breaks down the Raiders’ selection of Tennessee CB Jermod McCoy. ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/vGJLktiqK8
— PFSN (@PFSN365) April 25, 2026
Those are the same characteristics that helped Slay build a 13-year career, including six Pro Bowls and a first-team All-Pro selection in 2017. He finished with 28 interceptions, 163 passes defended, and 655 tackles, establishing himself as one of the defining coverage corners of his era, especially during his time in Philadelphia.
McCoy is not there yet, but the stylistic overlap is clear. He thrives at the catch point, has natural ball skills, and plays with the kind of closing burst that can erase throwing windows. In his 2024 season at Tennessee, he snagged four interceptions and consistently flashed that playmaking ability.
“If he can get back to 100%, he’s got the hyper elite fluidity and quickness. He’s got the elite playmaking at the catch point as well,” Cummings added.
Injury Concerns Create Day 3 Draft Value for the Raiders
The reason McCoy was even available at No. 101 comes down to durability. He did not play a snap in 2025, and teams had to weigh long-term projection against short-term uncertainty.
“Obviously, we don’t have access; we’re not privy to those medicals. There might be some setbacks with him. We go with what we know on the field,” Cummings said. “He’s a first- round player when he’s on the field.”
That risk is real, but the Raiders are in a position to be patient. With veterans already in place, McCoy does not need to rush back before he is ready. That makes this a forward-looking move rather than a plug-and-play addition.
From a traits standpoint, the upside is hard to ignore. In Cummings’ scouting report, he noted McCoy’s “hyper-elite hip fluidity, deceleration, and malleability on transitions,” along with his ability to be an “instant closer off his plant-and-drive.” Those are cornerstone traits for a true CB1.
At 5-foot-11 and 193 pounds, McCoy does not have prototypical size, but he makes up for it with explosiveness and control. He also showed his recovery is trending in the right direction, running a 4.37 40-yard dash at Tennessee’s Pro Day.
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Over his two-year college career between Oregon and Tennessee, McCoy played in 25 games and totaled 75 tackles, 6 interceptions, and 16 passes defended. The production matches the traits.
This is a bet on patience and projection for the Raiders. If McCoy gets healthy, they may have landed a Darius Slay-type playmaker in the fourth round. If not, it will go down as a risk that never fully materialized. Either way, the ceiling is what made this pick worth it.
