The Pittsburgh Steelers filled a massive hole at the cornerback position in free agency when they inked Jamel Dean to a three-year contract. While James Pierre found a new home this offseason, the Steelers retained Asante Samuel Jr., giving them a respectable trio early in 2026. But that might not stop them from taking a massive upside swing on one of the most talented players in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Jermod McCoy, a standout cornerback from Tennessee, is a polarizing figure because of an ACL injury that has kept him sidelined since the 2024 season. However, the tape and talent were so evident on film that some teams may have been able to look past his recent knee injury to select him in the first round.
Now, fans of McCoy just got a reason to feel confident again.
On Tuesday, the talented cornerback worked out at Tennessee's Pro Day, despite concerns that he might not be ready in time to test after skipping testing at the NFL Combine. However, McCoy turned heads when he posted a 4.38 40-yard dash, a 38-inch vertical, and a 10'7'' broad jump, per ESPN's Adam Schefter.
These would be excellent numbers for any healthy cornerback, let alone one recovering from an ACL injury. While cornerback is hardly the biggest need for the Steelers, we can plant McCoy firmly on the Steelers' draft radar as an option at pick No. 21 this year.
The Pittsburgh Steelers could roll the dice on CB Jermod McCoy after an impressive Pro Day workout
With Joey Porter Jr., Jamel Dean, and Asante Samuel Jr., cornerback is no longer a pressing need for the Pittsburgh Steelers (though the team could use an infusion of youth at the position). But if Omar Khan wants to swing for the fences, there's no better player to do that with than McCoy.
At just 20 years old with exceptional tools and tape, McCoy has CB1 upside in the NFL, and might be comparable to a Christian Gonzalez-level prospect entering the league. At 6'1'' and 188 pounds with a 77-inch wingspan, McCoy now combines his respectable frame with tremendous speed. Meanwhile, McCoy raked in six interceptions in just two seasons as a starter for the Volunteers before declaring early for the NFL Draft.
The Steelers could be the perfect team in just the right spot to gamble on the high-upside cornerback.
Since his first draft as general manager in 2023, Khan has taken players with injury concerns. Some of these players missed significant time early in their NFL careers (like Troy Fautanu and Cory Trice Jr.), while others, like Payton Wilson and Darnell Washington, have been well worth the draft capital invested in them.
The willingness to take these high-upside swings is the key.
Khan will be well familiar with McCoy's talent, and given his history of drafting players with injury histories, the talented CB won't be off Pittsburgh's draft board.
The latest consensus board update from FanSided Senior Contributor Marcus Mosher has McCoy as the 14th overall player in the class—and that was before his impressive Pro Day workout. Considering the Steelers are selecting 21st overall, this would be deemed an excellent value pick against the consensus.
If drafted, McCoy could serve in a sub-package role as a rookie. He would also serve as an outstanding insurance policy if contract talks with Porter go south or if Jamel Dean's efficiency drops off in his age-30 season this year.
Admittedly, drafting Jermod McCoy would feel like a luxury pick for a team with greater needs, and there's no guarantee the promising cornerback avoids more major injuries in the future. However, after his remarkable Pro Day, we have to believe he's still an option for the Pittsburgh Steelers in Round 1 of the 2026 NFL Draft.