Polarizing NFL Draft prospect just forced the Saints to take an extra look at him as the potential 8th overall pick

He’s a big-time talent, but there is risk involved.

Adam Holt — NFL News Writer
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Feb 26, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Tennessee defensive back Jermod McCoy (DB20) speaks to media members during the NFL Combine at the Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Jacob Musselman-Imagn Images

In a draft cycle where everyone knows who will go with the first pick, the 2026 NFL Draft holds a lot more uncertainty than some prior years after that initial selection. For the New Orleans Saints, their pick at eighth overall got even more intriguing this week.

Vols CB Jermod McCoy may be back in the discussion for Saints in first round

Jermod McCoy, who was one of the top defensive backs in college football in 2024, missed all of 2025 due to a leg injury. He then missed the NFL Combine workouts, too.

McCoy worked out for scouts on Tuesday, and his performance was loud.

McCoy’s athleticism was on full display, and he looked healthy, according to reports. The health concern had pushed him down nearly half a round in some mock drafts, but this performance may push him right back up into even possibly somewhere around when the Saints pick eighth overall.

Depending on how the board falls, New Orleans or another team in the top twelve may be tempted into his potential at a CB1 at the pro level.

“McCoy projects to be a man-coverage defender who is at his best on the boundary and guarding the man in front of him. With some of the smoothest transitions in the class, you can feel confident about his ability to mirror and match defenders on underneath and intermediate routes. 

There are some questions about his recovery speed, and you would like to see him use more of his frame at the line of scrimmage and against the run, but those underscore the injury concerns. If McCoy comes out of his medicals cleanly during the pre-draft process, there is a chance he’s the top corner off the board.” — Rob Gregson

The Saints have a clear need at cornerback, especially after Alontae Taylor chose to join the Tennessee Titans in free agency.

While Quincy Riley and Kool-Aid McKinstry both made strides in 2025, McCoy has forced his way back into the top ten discussion due to his potential and performances from 2024.

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