Drafting A Corner With A Bum Knee At No. 15?
April 4th, 2026
Tennessee CB Jermod McCoy.
Initially, Joe thought this was outrageous. But a schlock draft dude might be onto something.
At the NFL owners meetings this week, Bucs coach Todd Bowles said the team needs to add at least one, maybe two corners. That could be in the draft or that could be signing someone before training camp.
So Joe was doing research and noticed Bucky Brooks of NFL.com — in his third of 30 schlock drafts, has the Bucs picking a corner. And when Brooks detailed the player, Joe nearly threw up.
Brooks wants Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht to draft a corner in the first round who missed the 2025 season with a bum knee! That would be Jermod McCoy of Tennessee.
Taking a flier on a cornerback who missed the entire 2025 season with a torn ACL is risky, but McCoy’s instincts, awareness and ball skills make it a worthwhile gamble for a team that needs to improve on the defensive side of the ball.
Well, maybe Joe is hung up on semantics, but “taking a flyer” on a player is not what a team should be doing with the 15th overall pick. It’s what you do on the third day of the draft.
Now in the past, Licht has not shied away from taking injury-prone college corners. Carlton Davis was always nicked up at Auburn. And Jamel Dean had three total knee surgeries in high school and at Auburn. Licht won a Super Bowl with those guys.
And of course, Benjamin Morrison dealt with injuries at Notre Dame that forced him to miss chunks of time. The jury is still out on last year’s second-round pick.
However, Licht did not use a first-round pick on Davis, Dean or Morrison. That’s a huge difference.
Now Brooks’ colleague, former NFL personnel guy Daniel Jeremiah, has McCoy ranked as his 15th-best prospect even after missing 2025 with a bum knee, suggesting he’s still a Day 1 starter.
So perhaps Brooks may be onto something?
Jermod McCoy (6’0 193) Tennessee
+ Man coverage ability
+ Ball skills
+ 89.6 coverage grade in 2024
+ 4 interceptions in 2024
+ Reliable tackler with just a 7.0% missed tackle rate in 2024
+ Physicality in coverage
+ Capable in run support– Missed all of 2025 with an ACL… pic.twitter.com/EdYjvQKkFz
— Bengals & Brews (@BengalsBrews) February 16, 2026
April 4th, 2026 at 11:11 am
Maybe on Day 3. But drafting Mesidor Day 1 – if he is there – and Rodriguez on Day 2 would solve alot of problems.
Those two can start on opening day. It would be like like getting Sapp and Brooks.
Just hope they will be there. You never know…!
April 4th, 2026 at 11:19 am
He ran a 4 37 at his Pro Day
His knee sound fine to me
Remember the knock on Frank Gore, coming out of Miami
Both are his knees were suspect, had multiple knee surgeries
He went on to have a very long successful career in the NFL
And he was a RB with 2 bum knees
April 4th, 2026 at 11:27 am
Yeah, NO! A hurt/injured player can not help the team win games when they can’t make it on the field. Too many other possibilites to take at 15. Why risk it?
April 4th, 2026 at 11:28 am
Frank Gore , 2 knee surgeries in college, one on both knees
16 seasons in the NFL
16,000 Rushing Yards, averaging 1,000 yards a season
484 Receptions, 3,985 Yards
Put this man in the Hall of Fame
April 4th, 2026 at 11:28 am
The draft is always a gamble. For many players, what they accomplish in college is no where near what they do in the NFL.
Some players though seem to be somewhat more of a ‘almost sure thing’ than most others. And those usually end up at the very top of the draft. At pick #15, finding an ‘almost sure thing’ is doubtful; no Sonny Styles or Arvell Reese or Caleb Downs or Rueben Bain is gonna be there.
Jermod McCoy tore his ACL back in Jan 2025. Potentially could’ve returned last season at Tennessee but chose not to. Was invited to the Senior Bowl but chose not to participate. Was invited to the Combine but chose not to participate. Did however just work out at the Tennessee Pro Day on March 31st and ran a 4.37 sec 40. Many in the media seem positive that he’ll go in Rnd 1, potentially as early as Dallas with the #12 pick.
I like what he did season before last at Tennessee. IF he’s there when we pick at #15, I’d take the gamble. Bucs NEED another CB who could start desperately.
April 4th, 2026 at 11:40 am
@Jcscycles
Both should be there. Rodriguez will but I’d still consider trading down. I think everyone is just getting tired of them drafting & signing a bunch of these injured players.
April 4th, 2026 at 11:45 am
Jermod McCoy is the best CB in this draft
He missed all of 2025 (Which is a good thing) he didn’t rush to get back
But he’s healthy now, ready to rock the field
Frank Gore missed all of 2002 season after tearing his ACL
He played 5 games in 2003, tore his ACL on his other knee
Then he returned in 2004 and was healthy, played the full season
He went on to the NFL, played 16 seasons, the most ever by a RB
He only missed 15 games in his 16 year NFL career
This despite averaging 263 touches a season
April 4th, 2026 at 11:59 am
Drafting A Corner At No. 15 With A Bum Knee..
But…but… but….. didn’t the Bucs already do this with Jamal Dean and now they want to go back that…… Great Googly Moogly!!!!
What I would suggest is trade up for
Jeremiyah Love RB
or
Carnell Tate WR
either that or take someone healthy at 15
April 4th, 2026 at 11:59 am
Word is Nacho the dog abuser is back.
April 4th, 2026 at 12:02 pm
I’m watching a rebroadcast of the 2014 NFL draft on NFL Network, we just drafted this kid Mike Evans ,………he could be good! Meanwhile, the broadcast crew keeps projecting landing spots for the next Joe Namath some kid called Johnny Mansell. I hope he’s there in the second round!!!🤞
April 4th, 2026 at 12:06 pm
We once traded our 2013 Ist round (13th) for a 27 year old CB with a bum knee
And Mark Dominik threw in our 2014, 4th round pick, for good measures
Then paid the guy $16 million a year
I know this sounds weird
But it’s a Buc life
April 4th, 2026 at 12:08 pm
Sure why not. Him, and Morrison can take turns missing time. Morrison made such a difference for us last year, why not double down, and take another corner coming off injury?
April 4th, 2026 at 12:10 pm
Lakeland Says:
April 4th, 2026 at 11:45 am
Jermod McCoy is the best CB in this draft
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Name sounds too much like Gerald McCoy, people here might be triggered and loose there minds!
April 4th, 2026 at 12:16 pm
This is exactly how you get players of his caliber at #15.
Dont mess this up Jason.
Any other year this CB is top 10.
April 4th, 2026 at 12:21 pm
Anthony
I was talking about Darrelle Revis
Because McCoy has a lot of Revis in him
If not for the knee issues, he would be a top 3 pick
April 4th, 2026 at 12:22 pm
If doctors clear him I’m down. If he is healthy then great pick. But doubt he’ll be there.
April 4th, 2026 at 12:28 pm
They did that last year with Morrison and his bum hips. How about draft a healthy, productive player for a change.
April 4th, 2026 at 12:30 pm
@ Lakeland: I was joking. Also, the Cleveland Browns just picked Johnny Menzel and Mike Maycock is proud as a peacock!
April 4th, 2026 at 12:32 pm
Jermod McCoy is only 20 years old with a huge ceiling
He’s definitely worth the risk
But l don’t believe he’s a good fit in Bowles defense
He’s solid in press man coverage, he’s not a zone CB
Schiano made the mistake of trying to play Revis in a zone defense
A press coverage CB, belongs on an island
Not playing in a soft zone
April 4th, 2026 at 12:51 pm
History says that you wait until round 2 for players with his medical history
April 4th, 2026 at 1:08 pm
Supposedly if you tear an ACL and recover your knee is stronger and you more unlikely to ever tear it again. I would support picking McCoy or Sadiq more than the 5th or 6th best edge at 15. If someone takes McCoy before us, they may push someone down to us we did not expect also…
April 4th, 2026 at 1:09 pm
I have a weird feeling Styles will drop right into our lap.
April 4th, 2026 at 1:31 pm
I was reading about McCoy and I think one mock draft might have had the Bucs drafting him at 15. Hard no, Bucs need an Edge or DT at 15. No more IR basket cases, Bucs need immediate help that can attend all of training camp, with no injury excuses or playing from behind latter in the season.
April 4th, 2026 at 1:41 pm
It seems like his ACL is good, but I’m sure multiple docs will look at him. I like him slightly more than Mesidor. with two bad feet. One ACL > Two Bad Feet??? Picking McCoy would like Licht trade away Zyon for a proven edge rusher. I wouldn’t miss Zyon, he couldn’t tackle his grandma at a Bingo night.
April 4th, 2026 at 2:06 pm
um, no….Julian Neal / Will Lee III… if we do go there early 3rd, Prysock if we go later…..you’re welcome
April 4th, 2026 at 2:11 pm
I don’t think there’s any DT worth picking at 15 (no pass rushing DT) and the 5th or 6th best edge is unlikely to be better than what we already have there. So the draft is unlikely to provide what you are looking for. A great corner or tight end could both help this team a ton though. So could a great ILB.
April 4th, 2026 at 2:25 pm
Agree St Pete Matt. We need corners for sure. Got to draft one early and another on day 3. Go DT and LB day 2. If Sediq is there though at 15 have to seriously consider it. If not then go corner with our first pick.
April 4th, 2026 at 2:43 pm
stuck in m o d again….eh
April 4th, 2026 at 2:44 pm
Stpetematt … ‘A great corner or tight end could both help this team a ton though. So could a great ILB.’
CB yes. ILB sure. TE big no, unless his name is Gronk.
April 4th, 2026 at 2:48 pm
Nah, there’s healthier and viable value at CB day 2.
More talent at CB than there is at Edge in this class and I wouldn’t want to bypass a top 5-7 player at EDGE to take a player bouncing back from rehabbing(again).
Liking Tacario Davis more and more.
Andre Fuller out of Toledo
Tony Grimes truther out of Purdue
Either of Florida CBs
Daylen Everette
CB & ILB are kind of like pick your flavor, there are prospects with lower projections that could be perfect fits depending on your team makeup over some of the top guys at the position.
I think we’re in a position to land a CB anytime during day 2 that can come in, contribute on special teams and potential push for playing time.
April 4th, 2026 at 3:03 pm
You can never have enough good cornerbacks…ever.
April 4th, 2026 at 3:38 pm
No way he is there at 15. Kid is a day one starter and a stud.
April 4th, 2026 at 3:58 pm
Absolutely friggin NO! not at #15. Are you guys crazy?
April 4th, 2026 at 4:13 pm
Mesidor is injury prone, you can’t hold injuries against this kid if you aren’t holding them against other options. Now, if you want edge drafted first, then the gamble is will they contribute year one?
April 4th, 2026 at 4:37 pm
Why not drafting McCoy with the 15th pick
Buc fans are fully confident that 3 offensive lineman with bum knees are healthy
So why not have confidence in a guy almost half their weight?
April 4th, 2026 at 4:38 pm
No way! He needs to stick to drafting round2+ corners. That’s his bread and butter.
April 4th, 2026 at 4:54 pm
Not sure what difference a 1st round CB makes when the front 7 mostly trash…QBs with all day to throw will pick anyone apart. I’m not saying CBs don’t matter. I’m just saying pressure is the great elixir for getting by with average CBs.