NFL mock draft 2026 from ESPN has Saints taking surprise top-10 CB

Tennessee's Jerrod McCoy projected to go No. 8 overall to New Orleans, per anonymous scout

Apr. 17, 2026 at 3:07pm

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In the latest 2026 NFL mock draft from ESPN, an anonymous scout has the New Orleans Saints selecting Tennessee cornerback Jerrod McCoy with the 8th overall pick, a surprising selection that has McCoy going much higher than other recent projections.

Why it matters

Cornerback is a crucial position in the NFL, and landing a top prospect like McCoy could be a game-changer for the Saints' defense. However, McCoy's draft stock has been somewhat uncertain due to a knee injury, so his potential top-10 selection indicates NFL teams may be high on his long-term potential despite the injury concerns.

The details

In the ESPN mock draft, the anonymous scout praised McCoy as a "true blue-chip cornerback" and said the Saints would be wise to take him at No. 8 if he's available, believing he can return to the dominant form he showed in 2024 when he was considered the best cornerback in the country. This is a significant jump from other recent projections, like our own mock draft that had McCoy going 12th overall to the Dallas Cowboys.

  • The 2026 NFL Draft is set to take place next week in Pittsburgh.

The players

Jerrod McCoy

A cornerback from the University of Tennessee who is projected to be a top draft pick in 2026 despite concerns over a knee injury.

New Orleans Saints

An NFL team based in New Orleans, Louisiana that is in need of defensive help and could target McCoy with their first-round pick.

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What they’re saying

“Rarely do you find true blue-chip cornerbacks, and when one falls to you, it's an easy decision to take them off the board. So I'll take McCoy with the belief that his knee is good long term and that he'll be back to the player we saw in 2024, when he was the best cornerback in the nation.”

— Anonymous scout

What’s next

The 2026 NFL Draft will take place next week, so we'll soon see if the Saints do in fact select Jerrod McCoy with the 8th overall pick as this ESPN mock draft projects.

The takeaway

This ESPN mock draft highlights the unpredictability of the NFL Draft process, with a top cornerback prospect like Jerrod McCoy potentially being selected much higher than expected due to his talent and upside despite injury concerns. It will be interesting to see if the Saints or another team does in fact make McCoy a top-10 pick next week.