The Buccaneers have invested premium draft capital in their secondary as recently as 2025, but 2026 might see further additions still.
With a top-15 pick in tow, could the Bucs consider someone like Jermod McCoy, who is widely considered to be in a 1A-1B situation for top cornerback prospect with LSU’s Mansoor Delane? Let’s dive more into it.
Jermod McCoy’s Collegiate Career
A 3-star recruit out of Whitehouse High School in Whitehouse, Texas, McCoy participated as a multi-sport athlete in football, baseball, and track & field — lettering
in each and winning state titles in the long jump and triple jump.
He accepted an offer from Oregon State and played 12 games as a true freshman, starting 5 and immediately making an impact by leading the Beavers in passes defensed (7) and interceptions (2). He promptly received much more attention in the transfer portal as he joined Tennessee and excelled in 2024.
Starting all 13 games, McCoy became a second-team All-American and second-team All-SEC, leading the team with 9 pass breakups, tying for the team lead with 4 interceptions, and allowing only 1 touchdown all season.
Unfortunately, he tore his ACL during offseason training and missed the entire 2025 season, which eventually led to him declaring early for the NFL Draft.
Pro Day and Scouting Combine
The 20-year-old did interview and measure in (6-foot, 188 pounds) but did not participate in any on-field work at the 2026 Scouting Combine as he continued his rehab, which raised concerns given how he sustained the injury more than a year ago at that point.
However, he seemed to put some worries to rest at his recent Pro Day workout at the end of March, where he posted a 4.38-4.40 in the 40-yard dash, a 38-inch vertical jump, and a 10-foot-7 broad jump while doing the full gamut of position drills. Given data available, McCoy grades out as an elite athlete by Relative Athletic Score.
Given the Bucs’ propensity for drafting great-to-elite athletes in the first round, as well as younger ones, McCoy checks two big boxes.
What McCoy Can Do for the Bucs in 2026
At the least, McCoy provides high-end, cost-effective depth that backstops two uncertain starters in Zyon McCollum and Benjamin Morrison.
Pending an abject disaster, McCollum will be on the Bucs until 2028 given his inflated contract number, but his job should be far from secure and I wouldn’t doubt the Bucs eating the dead cap in 2027 if he can’t find more consistency. Morrison will be just a second-year player this season but suffered badly through injuries and reported mental health struggles. He’ll need to show he can stay healthy and in good spirits this year if he hopes to stay in the long-term picture.
If he’s a top-15 pick, McCoy will get rotational snaps no matter what as he acclimates, which will theoretically give the Bucs a higher coverage ceiling and more versatility given McCoy’s ball skills and natural feel for man coverage that McCollum and Morrison frankly do not possess the same level of.
In the best-case, McCoy adapts quickly and shows he deserves a bigger piece of the snap-count pie and eventually seizes one of the starter jobs from whomever is underperforming worse.
Three-Year Outlook
McCoy is so young, he’ll likely have an up-and-down road as he adjusts to NFL life and shakes off the rust from missing an entire year. He turns 21 this year, so the Bucs can afford to be patient with him through the growth process.
With any luck, he can become a full-time starter by 2027 and can build upon his considerable talent. McCoy’s aggressive mind set, natural athleticism, silky smooth body control, and active hands are all huge pluses that not all corners possess.
Come a couple years after, the Bucs could absolutely have a new bonafide No. 1 corner on their hands who can be trusted on an island, which is an incredibly valuable resource.
Stock Report
Prior to McCoy’s pro day, many wondered if his stock was teetered toward the end of Round 1 given the injury concerns, but now his excellent workout has resolidified his Day 1 status and even likely made it so Tampa’s current draft slot is the floor.
It’s basically guaranteed he’ll go top 20, and there’s been recent buzz he could be a safe bet within the top 12. One thing that isn’t a sure thing is if McCoy will make it to Tampa, but there’s at least a chance right now.
On the Clock…
There you have it, Bucs fans. How would you react to the possible drafting of a first-round corner like McCoy? Discuss in the comments below!
