"Team sources say a complicated medical situation caused [Jermod] McCoy to slide. Some teams feel he needs another corrective surgery on the knee. That surgery could cause him to miss next season. Some felt he should go ahead and do it to be ready for the 2027 season. "If he tries playing in 2026 and then has to have the surgery late, that could jeopardize his 2027 season. The uncertainty about McCoy's availability and whether his knee issues will linger for years to come caused him to slide.""
"The Commanders general manager does not select for need. He takes the best prospects available and worries about the rest later. That didn't change throughout the 2026 process. This strategy meant the Commanders didn't get their hands on another cornerback with any of their six selections. Peters didn't believe the value was there after they went with linebacker Sonny Styles at No. 7."
"Other options higher on their board were preferred. They also avoided the temptation to take a top 10 talent whose slide down the order was nothing short of alarming. These concerns were too big a risk in the first round, where McCoy was a lock to go if fully healthy. Not even a positive showing at his individual workout was enough to turn the tide."
The Washington Commanders general manager selected prospects based on overall value rather than positional need throughout the 2026 draft process. The approach resulted in no additional cornerback selections across six picks, including choosing linebacker Sonny Styles at No. 7. Higher-ranked options on the board were preferred, and the team avoided taking a top-10 talent whose fall down the order appeared alarming. Jermod McCoy’s knee issues were a major factor in his slide to No. 101 overall, with concerns about potential additional corrective surgery and the risk of missing the next season. Uncertainty about long-term knee problems and availability made the risk too large for first-round consideration, and his lack of a Day 2 selection reinforced the concern.
Read at Riggo's Rag
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