Las Vegas Raiders reportedly ‘optimistic’ Jermod McCoy will play this season

KNOXVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 19: Jermod McCoy #3 of the Tennessee Volunteers before a game between Alabama and Tennessee at Neyland Stadium on October 19, 2024 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Roger Wimmer/ISI Photos/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Las Vegas Raiders general manager John Spytek took a swing for the fences in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL draft by selecting former Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy. The 101st overall pick of the draft is widely considered a first-round talent but fell last weekend due to a medical concern about his knee after missing the 2025 College Football season with a torn ACL.

Yahoo! Sports' Charles Robinson reported that McCoy may need a second surgery on his knee, which could knock the cornerback out for another year and, potentially, threaten his career. According to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, that was enough for several teams to take the cornerback off the table, but the Raiders are optimistic about the situation.

After Day 2 of the draft, I checked with eight teams about Tennessee cornerbackJermod McCoywith a simple question: Is he off your board?'", Fowler wrote. Medical concerns with his surgically repaired knee caused the top-10-to-12 talent to slide dramatically. Five said yes to the question; three said no.

Las Vegas did extensive homework on the injury, and, at least as of now, the team is optimistic about his chances to play in 2026 and avoid a redshirt season or immediate surgery. Perhaps he needs a procedure sometime in the future, but the team is hopeful he can avoid that in the short term, with the caveat that it must get him in the building for the offseason program and see how he's progressing."

As of right now, it's looking like Syptek's gamble could pay off big time. Of course, a lot can change between May and the start of the season, but this is good news for the Silver and Black.

On a related note, Fowler also mentioned that a rival executive said last weekend's haul felt like John Spytek's draft", as opposed to last year when Pete Carroll's voice carried more weight, and that comment was meant as a compliment.

In Other Raiders' Links:

• UDFA class announced: the Raiders signed 17 undrafted rookies, officially releasing the 2026 UDFA class.
• Treydan Stukes adds versatile ballhawk: a film breakdown on what the second-round pick can bring to Las Vegas.
• 2 Raiders will attend rookie premier: per ESPN's Ryan McFadden, Fernando Mendoza and Mike Washington Jr. will represent the Raiders at the event.
• Mendoza hits the field: we're officially in slo-mo practice video season as the Raiders' social team captured the future of the franchise running out for his first practice.