The Bucs don’t need to draft a cornerback early, but they might need to start thinking about it – just in case one of the top available cover corners is available at No. 15. That’s where Tennessee’s Jermod McCoy enters the conversation and is near the top of the list of the more intriguing – and polarizing – defensive back prospects in this year’s class.
McCoy left the Volunteers with eligibility left on the table. He brings a skill set that fits what Todd Bowles covets at the position. At 6-foot-1, 188 pounds, he has length, agility, and a keen sense of football awareness that every corner needs to play in a man and zone defense. McCoy is not afraid to challenge receivers at the line, and he flashes the kind of competitiveness that defensive coaches gravitate toward.
Tennessee CB Jermod McCoy – Photo by: – Steve Roberts IMAGN Images
In every sense of what makes a good corner, McCoy has. He’s able to anticipate where a receiver is going or where the ball will be thrown. He can bait quarterbacks into throwing interceptions to him, which is why six combined picks in the 2023 and 2024 seasons, including five in his first and only season in Tennessee after transferring from Oregon State.
But there is a significant issue. McCoy is far from a finished product, mostly because a torn ACL injury in January of 2025 forced him to miss the entire 2025 season at Tennessee. It’s been a year since he’s played competitive football, so while he’s a first-round talent, there is certainly a risk for the Bucs to consider taking player at a position where they already have a trio of starters with Zyon McCollum, Benjamin Morrison, last year’s second-round pick, and nickelback Jacob Parrish, who was drafted last year in the third round.
The Bucs Drafting Jermod McCoy Would Be A Gamble
Jermod McCoy’s appeal is easy to see because he has NFL tools. He can press, run, take the ball away, and overall he competes. But drafting McCoy would be a gamble. That’s not necessarily a bad bet, but it is a bet nonetheless.
And that’s where the conversation gets more complicated for Tampa Bay.
The current cornerback room has talent, but it’s not without questions. Injuries have been an issue for Benjamin Morrison, who missed all of the preseason due to a hamstring injury and struggled because of it. He was in and out of the lineup all season long as his hamstring issues kept flaring up.
Consistency was a big issue for Zyon McCollum, having arguably the worst year of his career as he constantly got beat by receivers and didn’t make splash plays.
Bucs CB Benjamin Morrison and Bills WR Tyrell Shavers – Photo by: USA Today
The Bucs’ depth is being tested, too. They have a good slot corner in Jacob Parrish that can also play on the outside, but after that, their only other cornerback is Josh Hayes and he’s a special teams ace as a gunner. Another corner or two will need to be added, whether that’s through free agency or in the draft, to replace veterans Jamel Dean and Kindle Vildor.
So the idea of adding a high-upside cornerback makes sense , especially a player like McCoy that has starter traits. ESPN’s Peter Schrager recently came out with a mock draft where he had McCoy going to the Bucs at No. 15, so it’s not out of the realm of possibility that he could end up in Tampa Bay.
Tennessee CB Jermod McCoy – Photo by: – Alan Poizner – IMAGN Images
Bucs’ Problem On Defense
The dilemma that also needs to be factored in is that the Bucs need a lot more help on the other positions at defense. Inside linebacker, outside linebacker and another defensive tackle are much more pressing needs that corner. Taking McCoy, who may not immediately play due to his injury, pushes all the other needs further down the line and into other rounds.
With that said, the Bucs have proven that they stick to their draft board and pick the best player available regardless of what the position is. This ultimately comes down to philosophy.
If they’re thinking bigger picture, McCoy becomes more appealing. Because if this pick hits, it hits big, as McCoy likely would have been a Top 10 pick had he stayed healthy and had another productive season in 2025.
Tennessee CB Jermod McCoy – Photo by: – Kevin Jairaj – IMAGN Images
McCoy checks a lot of boxes for what the Bucs look for at cornerback. He also comes with a clear warning label, though. He’s not a safe pick. And he’s not guaranteed to help right away.
What he could be, though, is hard too pass up. And for a team like Tampa Bay, the question isn’t whether they can develop him, it’s whether they can afford to go for him at the expense of other positions they need to handle.
Jason Licht has drafted good players in recent years, but he hasn’t selected a Pro Bowler since the 2020 draft. It’s time to start drafting superstars and McCoy has the potential to be just that.