Jermod McCoy defensive back University of Tennessee
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NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - NOVEMBER 30: Jermod McCoy #3 of the Tennessee Volunteers celebrates after an interception during the first half of the game between the Vanderbilt Commodores and the Tennessee Volunteers at FirstBank Stadium on November 30, 2024 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Images)
The Minnesota Vikings are positioned to go with the “best player available” strategy – at least in the first round of the NFL draft later this month.
Nevertheless, there are still areas of weakness on the roster that interim general manager Rob Brzezinksi will have no doubt identified as being in need of an upgrade. And one position that certainly will be in play for a high-level addition is at cornerback.
As a result, Will Ragatz of Bring Me The Sports speculates the most realistic draft pick for the Vikings out of a potential six come April 25 is none other than Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy.
My current top six realistic Vikings picks at 18:
1. Jermod McCoy, CB2. Kenyon Sadiq, TE3. Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S4. Dillon Thieneman, S5. Jordyn Tyson, WR6. Keldric Faulk, DL https://t.co/JeCHLz02Ij
— Will Ragatz (@WillRagatz) April 8, 2026
“My current top six realistic Vikings picks at 18:” Ragatz posted on April 18.
“1. Jermod McCoy, CB
2. Kenyon Sadiq, TE
3. Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S
4. Dillon Thieneman, S
5. Jordyn Tyson, WR
6. Keldric Faulk, DL”
It is noteworthy that McCoy is the only cornerback on the list, although much of that comes down to the fact that the draft’s top cornerback, Mansoor Delane, is unlikely to be there at #18, and there are no other genuine contenders at the position to be in play when the Vikings get on the clock for the first time.
Is Cornerback the Vikings’ Biggest Need in the Draft
The team bought in James Pierre in free agency last month on a two-year $8.5 million contract as they navigated a window with tight financial restraints, who will look to pair with Isaiah Rodgers on the exterior of the secondary, allowing nickel back Byron Murphy Jr. to go back to his preferred position in the slot.
However, Pierre has hardly been a mainstay starter over his time in the pros. During his six-year career in the NFL – all of which have been spent with the Pittsburgh Steelers since they bought him in as an undrafted free agent in 2020 – he has never started more than five games in any one singular season.
And given the size of his deal, which averages a little more than $4 million per year, it would seem unlikely that Minnesota views him as their bona fide starter of the future, and perhaps not even for this coming year.
What Other Positions Could be Targeted Early On?
After the retirement of Harrison Smith and the relative thinness of the room without him, safety is also very much in play.
Emmanuel McNeil-Warren and Dillon Thieneman are the top two candidates at the position after Ohio State’s Caleb Downs, who is expected to be the top safety off the board and could be in play as a top 10 selection.
A three-technique defensive tackle would also make a lot of sense after the departure of Jonathan Allen, as could an 3-4 hybrid defensive end like Keldric Faulk, who was also listed by Ragatz. There are not a lot of elite three-techniques in this draft class, with Clemson’s Peter Woods one of the few predicted to go in the first round of the draft, but he is considered to be more likely to go in the 20s rather than the late teens.