In a recent mock draft from ESPN analyst Peter Schrager, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are projected to address one of their clearest roster needs by selecting Jermod McCoy out of Tennessee at No. 15 overall, and the fit makes plenty of sense for a team that needs a cornerstone player on the outside.
Tampa Bay’s cornerback room looked shaky late in the year, especially once injuries forced younger and less experienced players into bigger roles. With no major free-agent addition to replace Jamel Dean, the position remains one of the most obvious holes on the roster heading into the draft.
When McCoy was on the field with Tennessee in 2024, his production backed up the first-round buzz. He played 696 snaps with 393 in coverage, allowed just 31 completions on 62 targets, recorded four interceptions, and broke up 16 passes while holding opposing quarterbacks to a 50 percent completion rate. That kind of ball production and coverage consistency is exactly what this secondary needs.
The biggest question is the ACL tear that wiped out his entire 2025 season, which adds real projection risk for a team looking for immediate stability. Still, if Tampa Bay is confident in the medicals, this is the type of upside swing that aligns with both need and long-term direction.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Who did the Bucs land in Peter Schrager’s 2026 NFL Mock Draft?
Reporting by Mason Riney, Buccaneers Wire / Bucs Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
