The Tennessee Vols have a pair of potential first round picks in the 2026 NFL Draft in cornerbacks Jermod McCoy and Colton Hood. McCoy, provided he can prove he’s healthy at the NFL Combine, very well could be the first cornerback selected in the draft.

Hood also could find himself going on the draft’s first night after a strong season in place of McCoy in 2025 after the latter missed the season with a knee injury. He also shined recently during Senior Bowl week in Mobile.

While the two didn’t play together last fall, one draft analyst projects them being teammates in the NFL in his most recent projection.

ESPN’s field Yates put out his most recent mock draft on Wednesday, and he has the Los Angeles Rams doubling up on Vols and cornerbacks by taking the duo in the first round.

ESPN’s Field Yates has Tennessee CBs Jermod McCoy and Colton Hood going to the Rams in the first round in latest mock draft

This is what Yates had to say about McCoy to the Rams at pick No. 13:

“The Rams have two first-round picks, and the tenor of their offseason would’ve changed dramatically if quarterback Matthew Stafford retired. But Stafford said he’ll be back in 2026 during his MVP speech, making cornerback the primary need. Los Angeles learned the hard way last season that a strong front seven can’t neutralize a capable passing game — Jaxon Smith-Njigba combined for 354 receiving yards in three matchups against the Rams.

McCoy is a wild card. He is clearly talented enough to go in the top 10, but he missed the entire 2025 season after tearing an ACL last January. He’s a long, confident and talented man-to-man cover corner who stood out in 2024 (four interceptions and seven passes defensed). If his medicals are fully on track, he’ll go early.”

The Rams received pick No. 13 in the trade, ironically enough, with Atlanta last year that allowed the Falcons to draft former Vol James Pearce, Jr.

But they also hold their original first round pick, which is No. 29 in this year’s draft order, and Yates has them using it to take Hood.

“A double dip at cornerback for the Rams? And from the same college?! This would be the first instance of a team taking two players from the same school at the same position in the first round during the common draft era (since 1967), per ESPN Research. But I believe this move merits consideration given the overall strength of the Rams’ roster and the vulnerability of their secondary. Hood didn’t actually take any snaps on the field with McCoy, as he transferred to Tennessee prior to the 2025 season that McCoy sat out due to injury. But Hood more than made up for McCoy’s void with 10 pass breakups this past season.”

As Yates notes, taking two players at the same position in the first round and from the same school would be a modern draft era first, which is pretty incredible to think about. Between all the great Alabama, Miami, Georgia, and Ohio State teams that have flooded players into the first round of the NFL Draft over the years, none have been able to make that claim.

The Rams are a championship contender with few flaws, but one of their needs is at cornerback, so while it’s a giant unknown what will actually happen on draft day, the Rams spending multiple picks to address the position isn’t all that crazy.

And if it happened with two former Vols on the draft’s opening night? That would be quite the accomplishment for the program.

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