The Minnesota Vikings have strung together three wins a row. It’s always a good thing to just simply wins games right?
Well, it depends how you look at it. If you’re looking at it from a position of wanting a better draft pick, the Vikings have been executing some self-inflicted wounds during this little winning streak.
In the midst of these wins, the Vikings have relegated their draft pick from borderline top-10, all the way to currently holding the 15th overall selection. This likely takes them out of the running for top prospects like Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love and Ohio State safety Caleb Downs.
With the recent shake-ups in the projected draft order, Pro Football Focus released a shiny new mock draft. In recent drafts, the publication has had the Vikings take the aforementioned Jeremiyah Love multiple times. They also had them take Caleb Downs once.
This time, with the recent falling-back of Minnesota’s draft position, Minnesota went down a different path.
Vikings Take a Young Defender in Recent PFF Mock Draft
GettyNORMAN, OKLAHOMA – SEPTEMBER 21: Defensive back Jermod McCoy #3 of the Tennessee Volunteers runs with a 17-yard interception return against the Oklahoma Sooners in the first quarter at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on September 21, 2024 in Norman, Oklahoma. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)
With the 15th overall pick in the 2026 NFL PFF Mock Draft, the Minnesota Vikings selected CB Jermod McCoy out of Tennessee.
PFF explained the thought-process behind the selection:
“The Vikings don’t have a cornerback who has earned a PFF overall grade above 75.0 this season, so investing in the position early in the draft would be wise. McCoy earned an 87.0 PFF overall grade in 2024 after allowing a reception on just 50.0% of the passes thrown into his coverage. He also came away with six interceptions between 2023 and 2024.”
McCoy would join a Vikings’ cornerback room that is more of needing than young talent. The room currently consists of Byron Murphy Jr., Isaiah Rodgers, Fabian Moreau, and Dwight McGlothern. You could easily argue that all of these names are replaceable.
Tennessee CB Jermod McCoy
GettyDefensive back Jermod McCoy #3 of the Tennessee Volunteers
McCoy declared for the 2026 NFL Draft on December 10th, publicly announcing it on his Instagram.
McCoy missed the entire 2025 CFB season after he tore his ACL during offseason training. He is on a good track to recovery, however with the injury happening in January, he was never cleared to play a game.
He began his collegiate career in 2023 with the Oregon State Beavers, before transferring down south to join the Tennessee in the SEC.
In his only healthy season with the Vols in 2024, McCoy only allowed a 50% completion percentage and 53.6 passer rating. He totaled 37 tackles and 11 defensive stops. In coverage, he forced 6 pass break-ups and 4 interceptions while allowing only 2 passing touchdowns.
The 6’0ft, 193lb cornerback could a bring a brand of physicality that would be welcome on Brian Flores (or Flores-adjacent) style of defense.
If the Vikings have the opportunity to select him around their pick, it would be safe to assume they will give McCoy a look.
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