Andrew Buller-Russ
The Las Vegas Raiders are fresh off making Fernando Mendoza the first overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. But they also selected nine other players, and by all appearances, their draft class was a profound success.
Of course, we won’t know the true results of the Raiders’ 2026 draft class for another year or so, if not longer. Yet, it’s never too early for some early takeaways.
By some accounts, the Raiders nailed their draft class. They even found some draft steals, but even they come with question marks.
Specifically, Essentially Sports’ NFL insider Tony Pauline made the suggestion that there’s a “chance” fourth-round cornerback Jermod McCoy “may never play football again.”
“Cornerback Jermod McCoy was worth a roll of the dice in Round 4,” Pauline wrote. “There’s a chance he may never play football again, and he could be sidelined in 2026 at the very least, but if he returns to health, it will be the bargain of the draft.”
McCoy entered draft day as a projected first-round pick. Yet, reports of NFL doctors suggesting the Tennessee defensive back had a potential “degenerative knee condition.” That left some wondering if McCoy could slip to the second.
Of course, McCoy’s draft freefall didn’t end until Day 3, when the Raiders made him the 101st overall pick. Still just 20 years old, it would be a near tragedy if McCoy never got to display his talents on an NFL field, yet teams clearly had their concerns regarding his knee.
