2026 NFL Draft Intel: Jermod McCoy’s medicals, the truth about Colton Hood, an FCS darling, and Mansoor Delane’s lone concern
Early 2026 NFL Draft intel brings some mixed reviews for a deep cornerback class.
While there are still a few weeks remaining in the 2025 NFL season, most fanbases have already turned their sights to the 2026 NFL Draft class. The East-West Shrine Bowl is already happening, while the Panini Senior Bowl is set to kick off next week. Before you know it, all everyone will be talking about is prospects, scouting reports, big boards, and different variations of mock drafts.
When it comes to strengths in the 2026 class, the cornerback group is one of the deepest positions overall. As we get closer and closer to April, more intel will become available to the public. Over the last several days, I’ve spoken to just about every league source I have to uncover as much information as possible. This intel centered around that aforementioned cornerback group.
Here is everything you need to know about the cornerback group ahead of the Senior Bowl and 2026 NFL Scouting Combine.
Jermod McCoy (Tennessee)
If you think back to the 2024 college football season, Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy was one of the breakout stars in the entire country. The talented cover man went into this past offseason as an early favorite to be a top-10 overall selection in the 2026 NFL Draft. Based on what the 6-0, 196-pound cornerback did in the SEC at just 19 years old the year prior, it was very understandable.
Even with McCoy missing the 2025 season due to a preseason ACL tear, he is still inside of my top three players for the class. This is a blue-chip player all day.
Whenever injuries are involved, however, you want to always make sure you are doing your due diligence as an evaluator. When talking to a current NFC South area scout about the former Tennessee star, my worry about the McCoy injury was definitely lessened. It appears that the former Vols standout has already gotten the green light.
“There’s a chance he could have played late in the season if they were playing for something,” that scout said. “He’s been back at full speed for a while now. There’s very little concern about him right now, and if McCoy is what he was prior to the injury, that’s a future All-Pro corner. Great kid too.”
Mansoor Delane (LSU)
When Delane was at Virginia Tech, he was a good player. During his lone season with LSU in 2025, Delane was an elite cover cornerback. His game is pretty reminiscent of former Pro Bowler Tre’Davious White, and I would draft him inside of the top 15 and not think twice about it. Delane is about as solid a prospect as you will find in the class.
While Delane doesn’t have great size (5’11 ⅛”, 191 pounds), he hits all the requisite thresholds outside of arm length (30 ⅛”) and boasts a really nice combination of change of direction, tenacity, and football instincts/intelligence. Delane is a coach’s dream, having the word “proactive” constantly written throughout his scouting report. He also possesses some outside-in versatility that should play well in the slot, as well.
The most concerning aspect of Delane’s game is his lack of long speed. I heard from multiple sources around the league that there is concern about Delane matching up against the league’s top speed threats on the outside. He is a technically proficient player, and he needs to be. Seeing what Delane runs in his 40-yard dash will be massive for his evaluation.
Treydan Stukes (Arizona)
While most folks around the league I’ve spoken with view former Arizona standout Treydan Stukes as a safety who can also play in the slot, a couple of teams have him graded as an outside cornerback right now. He has the size profile that many will like on the outside (6’¾”, 195 pounds, 31 ¼” arms) and is expected to test really well.
There are more than a couple of second-round grades out there on Stukes around the NFL. He is one of the prospects the media hasn’t valued as highly as the league, at least so far.
Charles Demmings (Stephen F. Austin)
Like Stukes, there is also love around the league for Stephen F. Austin cornerback Charles Demmings. Possessing long arms, impressive overall athleticism, and press-man technical prowess, there are several Day 2 (rounds 2-3) grades out there right now.
Demmings has a chance to solidify his spot inside the top 100 if he tests as many believe he will. There are expectations he will run in the low 4.3-second range in the 40-yard dash, vertical jump 44 inches, and broad jump in the 11’ 3” range in the broad jump.
Colton Hood (Tennessee)
While McCoy was limited by injury this past season, it allowed Tennessee cornerback Colton Hood to become a breakout star in the SEC. The nephew of former NFL defensive back Roderick Hood, you can tell the former Vols defender has been extremely well coached.
The redshirt sophomore is one of the very best press-man cornerbacks in the 2026 class. His combination of technique and physicality is extremely impressive.
If you frequent mock drafts this time of the year, there’s a good chance that you will see Hood’s name somewhere in the first round. Widely appreciated from the media and fan perspective, it sounds like that appreciation might not be quite as high in league circles. In fact, there are a couple of teams that are much lower on the 6-0, 195-pound cover man.
“This is why mock drafts are irresponsible,” an AFC East scout told me. “I had heard some good things about Hood, but when I watched him for crosschecks, it was really underwhelming. He’s supposedly going to run fast, but he doesn’t play that fast. His hips are tight to redirect once you press him vertically. This is not a first-round corner. I think Hood should have gone back to school.”
Keith Abney (Arizona State)
You won’t find many cornerbacks in the 2026 class more confident than Keith Abney. He excels in off-man coverage, having the hip fluidity to quickly reduce space and stay in phase. Abney is also a lot more competitive at the catch point than you would expect for a player his size, as well.
He played exclusively as the cornerback on the right side of the field for the Sun Devils this past season, affording him experience at both field and boundary cornerback at times.
“I love Abney,” that NFC South scout said. “But he’s going to measure in a hair under 5-10 and run like 4.5 in the forty-yard dash. You’re going to have to bet on a smaller cornerback that lacks great physical tools. That doesn’t mean that Abney can’t be a good player, but can he play on the outside, or will he have to play nickel? That’s the convo that is happening with every team.”
Betting on outliers can be scary for folks around the league, but a whole lot easier for the media whose jobs aren’t on the line. It’s easy to like Abney’s film as a tough, tenacious but undersized cornerback. Ask yourself, however, if you’d bet on him with your job on the line. That’s where the interesting decisions begin.
D’Angelo Ponds (Indiana)
“I couldn’t care less how small (D’Angelo) Ponds is,” an NFC East scout told me. “What that kid lacks in size, he makes up for with his physicality, twitch, and competitiveness. Ponds will probably be a pure nickel on the next level, but who cares? His film shouldn’t let him get out of the top 64. I would be shocked if he doesn’t become a good starter, at least.”
While I haven’t spoken to anyone with many concerns about Ponds around the league yet, I do think it wouldn’t be right to skate over them and not discuss them. Ponds’ lack of size will force him inside. That doesn’t make him a poor prospect, but it also does make him very role-specific.
Will Lee III (Texas A&M)
Speaking of role-specific, Will Lee III is the definition of a press-man cornerback coming out of Texas A&M. Boasting a long frame with underrated play strength, Lee does his best work when he can get his hands on opposing wide receivers early on in reps. Lee is well-liked around the league for teams that like to play a lot of press-man coverage.
There are, however, some teams that have questions about Lee’s long speed and overall ability to match vertically. That will knock Lee down the board for some, making his draft outlook a bit volatile. While I don’t think he’ll get out of Day 2 (rounds 2-3), his grades do feel all over the place. Lee is a hard player to predict in terms of that draft range.
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