The 2026 NFL Combine is underway, and just like every other offseason, those who work out and those who don’t are placed under a microscope. So when a predicted first-round player on the mend from an injury decides not to participate, it immediately becomes an incredibly polarizing situation.
Is Jermod McCoy Smart or Foolish for Not Working Out?
There aren’t many prospects in a draft class that can miss an entire collegiate season and still maintain a first-round status one year later. Jermod McCoy suffered a torn ACL in January of 2025 during a workout at his home in Texas. He hasn’t participated in any meaningful form of football since then, and now, after missing the 2026 Senior Bowl, he will not participate in the 2026 NFL Combine.
On Thursday, ESPN’s Jordan Reid posted on X that McCoy would not be doing anything at the Combine. “Sources: #Tennessee CB Jermod McCoy will not workout or participate in position drills at the combine,” Reid reported. It didn’t take long for NFL Draft Analyst Marcus Whitman to give his thoughts, which were not in favor of McCoy’s decision.
Call me old school but I hate this. He’s 13 months removed from his ACL Tear. Didn’t play at the Senior Bowl, now this.
I get you gotta play the market and he’s following the advice of his agent, but at some point we gotta see SOMETHING, man. https://t.co/vcSri91R0v
— Marcus Whitman (@TFG_Football) February 26, 2026
Marcus Mosher, a Senior Contributor for Fansided and host of “Locked On Cowboys” also questioned the cornerback’s lack of participation. “Massive mistake on his part. He didn’t play football at all in 2025. All this does is raise more questions,” Mosher posted to X on Thursday, but is Mosher correct or will teams trust his outstanding 2024 tape to do the talking for McCoy?
Massive mistake on his part.
He didn’t play football at all in 2025.
All this does is raise more questions. https://t.co/fYwzxWK3n1
— Marcus Mosher (@Marcus_Mosher) February 26, 2026
The opinions got a bit cryptic when it came to Easton Freeze, Titans host for AtoZ Sports. “He’s becoming untouchable,” the NFL reporter posted to X, quoting Reid’s announcement that McCoy wouldn’t be working out or doing drills. It is certainly true that Reid is being insulated until his Pro Day at Tennessee, but how patient can NFL teams be?
He’s becoming untouchable https://t.co/L4iXPZ3XDP
— Easton Freeze (@eastonfreeze) February 26, 2026
McCoy’s Volunteers teammate, cornerback Colton Hood, was brought into the conversation by Will Boing, host of “Ramon and Will” for the Tennessee Titans. While Hood is considered a second-round prospect unless he wows during drills, with McCoy’s non-participation, Boing thinks that changes things, “I don’t think it’s very far-fetched to say that Colton Hood could be the first Vols corner off the board.”
I don’t think it’s very far-fetched to say that Colton Hood could be the first Vols corner off the board https://t.co/LV2is3pEVZ
— Will Boling (@will_boling) February 26, 2026
Indianapolis Colts beat writer Destin Adams also sees this move taking McCoy out of the running for the top cornerback taken in the 2026 NFL Draft, “Well I doubt he takes over the poll position for the top CB to hear his name called at this point.”
Well I doubt he takes over the poll position for the top CB to hear his name called at this point https://t.co/5dBCK4LGqB
— Destin Adams (@TheDestinAdams) February 26, 2026
Thor Nystrom of Skor North, covering the Minnesota Vikings, continued the negative reviews of McCoy’s choice to wait until his Pro Day to work out for NFL teams. “I don’t like this one bit. McCoy had over a year to rehab for the Senior Bowl and NFL Combine, and now he has skipped both after missing the 2025 season,” Nystrom posted to X on Thursday.
A post from Underdog NFL upped the drama with a post that stated McCoy had been fully cleared to participate, but chose to hold off until his Tennessee Pro Day. “McCoy said he’s medically cleared but will wait until pro day to workout and test for teams.”
McCoy said he’s medically cleared but will wait until pro day to workout and test for teams. https://t.co/DEcdF3Tb3w
— Underdog NFL (@UnderdogNFL) February 26, 2026
Whether McCoy’s decision was right or not won’t be answered until the 2026 NFL Draft, but it seems that most perspectives from those at the 2026 NFL Combine are that this is a mistake. It will be up to McCoy if he wants to prove them all wrong.
