Tennessee CB Jermod McCoy projected to serve as a crucial first step in major franchise rebuild in latest mock draft

The former Vol could end up being a crucial building block in South Florida.

Craig Smith, Destin Adams
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The Miami Dolphins have finally taken the overdue step of tearing down the old guard and rebuilding.

That began during the season with the supposed mutual parting of the team with general manager Chris Grier after a decade in the role. It continued with the decision by owner Stephen Ross to fire head coach Mike McDaniel, a move that seemed uncertain at most after the end of the season.

With new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and head coach Jeff Hafley — both of whom came over from Green Bay — and a number of new staff members in the building, the rebuilding process begins in earnest as Miami works to win their first playoff game in more than a quarter century.

Naturally, that process will begin with retooling a roster that’s had plenty of issues in recent years. Ergo, the new regime’s first free agency period and draft will be crucial to fuel that turnaround.

Regarding the latter, one pundit sees a former Tennessee star being their first draft pick. A to Z Sports draft analyst Destin Adams put out his latest first-round mock draft over the weekend, and Vols CB Jermod McCoy was the pick.

Tennessee CB Jermod McCoy projected to land with Miami Dolphins at No. 11 in recent mock draft

This is what Adams had to say about McCoy:

“The Dolphins decided to fully reset their leadership infrastructure, which makes them tough to predict. They have one of the worst CB rooms in the league, though, and I expect new head coach Jeff Hafley to make that a top priority. So I have them taking Tennessee’s Jermod McCoy to begin reshaping Miami’s secondary.”

The Dolphins have some excellent tools in all three levels of their defense in Zach Sieler, Jordyn Brooks, and Minkah Fitzpatrick. They also have a solid group of pass rushers. But what they lack is a true number one, shutdown cornerback.

McCoy has the best look of being that type of player out of all corners in this draft. If he can show he’s fully recovered from the ACL tear he suffered a year ago and perform well at the NFL Combine — or otherwise satisfy teams with his medicals — he should be penciled in as the top cornerback to hear his name on Thursday night in Pittsburgh, where the 2026 NFL Draft will take place.

And don’t be surprised if that team ends up being the Dolphins.

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