Cleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry made a move to improve the cornerback position five weeks into the 2025 season.
The Browns acquired fifth-year cornerback Tyson Campbell from the Jacksonville Jaguars in exchange for cornerback Greg Newsome II, the club’s first-round selection in the 2021 NFL Draft.
It was an exchange of players who were either underperforming or a bad fit for their respective teams. While Campbell got off to a bit of a slow start in Cleveland, he played well enough through
the remainder of the campaign to be in line for a starting role this season opposite Denzel Ward.
Cleveland still needs a dependable third cornerback, however, now that Martin Emerson Jr. is likely off to a new team in free agency while still rehabbing the Achilles injury that sidelined him for all of last season.
Berry likely has too many priorities on offense to address the cornerback position in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft. But if he decides that having another top player at the position is a smart play in the quarterback-heavy AFC, he may look to Jermod McCoy from Tennessee.
Name: Jermod McCoy
Position: Cornerback
Height/Weight: 6-foot-1, 188 pounds
College: Tennessee Volunteers
2024 Defensive Stats: 13 games, 44 tackles, 0.5 tackles for loss, 4 interceptions, 9 passes defensed
Career Defensive Stats: 25 games, 75 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 6 interceptions, 16 passes defensed, 1 fumble recovery
Average “Big Board” Position as of Publishing Date from Mock Draft Database: 14th overall, projected first round
The Draft Network’s Grade/Round Value: Round 2 – Winning Starter
What an Expert is Saying
McCoy is a toolsy outside corner with CB1 flashes, but an ACL tear robbed him of a much-needed third season. Hips and feet are smooth, allowing for quality lateral transitions and efficient gathers to match hard-breaking curls. He’s athletic in his recoveries, but average acceleration leaves him chasing too often on go routes. More focused, physical press disruption should make the rep easier to control. He’s opportunistic with strong ball skills at the catch point. His route squeeze and zone awareness should improve with more reps. We should expect McCoy’s athletic traits and instincts to help him make up for lost time once he gets into camp.
What an Expert is Saying (Bonus Round):
A one-year starter at Tennessee (and one-and-a-half-year starter overall), McCoy was the left cornerback (primarily outside) in former defensive coordinator Tim Banks’ man-heavy scheme. Known more as an offensive player in high school, he announced himself as an up-and-coming cornerback at Oregon State in 2023 — his first career interception came against then-Cal QB Fernando Mendoza. He transferred to Tennessee as a sophomore and had an All-America season, with 13 passes defended and four interceptions, before an ACL injury wiped out his junior year.
The bad news is McCoy doesn’t have any 2025 tape. The good news is McCoy’s 2024 tape is really, really good. He is patient, agile, and balanced in press-man coverage and has the reactive athleticism to gear up or down quickly. Though he has the requisite speed for the NFL, his panic moments downfield can draw him out of phase or lead to flags. He shows terrific awareness in zone to feel and bait routes around him, while also driving on the action in front of him.
McCoy needs to hone his discipline to hold up versus NFL competition, but he is a twitchy mover with the spatial instincts and ball skills to create plays in coverage. If there are no concerns with his knee, he should be an early NFL starter as a rookie.
Fit with the Browns
The Browns can use a third cornerback now that the team has pretty much moved on from Martin Emerson Jr. Using a first-round selection at the position could be seen as a luxury with left tackle and wide receiver being bigger issues. But Denzel Ward is not getting any younger, and while Tyson Campbell looked solid after arriving from Jacksonville in an in-season trade, the second year in Cleveland is not always kind to players who looked good at first glance.
Adding another cornerback in the second round feels more appropriate with the offensive side of the ball needing attention in the first round. But even with owner Jimmy Haslam’s “love of Tennessee,” it could be a bit of a risk to take a player who has not seen the field since 2024. McCoy was good in 2024, however, and he would be the third cornerback in his rookie season with the Browns, which would provide the opportunity to get back up to game speed before potentially taking on a bigger role in 2027.
That is all dependent, of course, on no other team willing to take a shot on McCoy in the first round.
Browns Player Drafting Could Impact
Ward and Campbell are locks, but Tre Avery, Myles Bryant, Myles Harden, Dom Jones, and D’Angelo Ross would all be fighting to avoid being the odd man out.
Priority: Medium
What are your thoughts on Jermod McCoy? Should the Browns select a defensive tackle for the second year in a row? Let us know in the comments!
