Eight 2026 Draft Picks Remain Unsigned
Over the past few years, we’ve seen dozens of rookies remain unsigned in July. Last offseason, there were still 33 unsigned draft picks on July 9. The year before, there were 30 unsigned draft picks.
Fortunately, teams have been a bit more active resolving their draft pick signings this offseason. At the moment, there are only eight 2026 draft picks who remain unsigned. The grouping includes:
Round 1:
- No. 1 (Raiders): Fernando Mendoza (QB, Indiana)
- No. 13 (Rams): Ty Simpson (QB, Alabama)
Round 2:
- No. 55 (Patriots): Gabe Jacas (EDGE, Illinois)
Round 3:
- No. 65 (Cardinals): Carson Beck (QB, Miami)
- No. 69 (Bears): Sam Roush (TE, Stanford)
- No. 76 (Steelers): Drew Allar (QB, Penn State)
Round 4:
- No. 101 (Raiders): Jermod McCoy (CB, Tennessee)
- No. 106 (Texans): Febechi Nwaiwu (G, Oklahoma)
In recent years, there was a trend that saw second-rounders often holding out for unique guarantee structures. This culminated last year, when 30 second-round picks remained unsigned at this point of the offseason. Fortunately, it seems like agents and teams have established some kind of standard, as only one second-round pick is currently without a contract.
It isn’t a surprise that half of the grouping consists of quarterbacks. There’s been particular focus on the pair of first-round picks, Fernando Mendoza and Ty Simpson, with many pundits speculating that the rookies are pushing for contract language around payout language and/or voiding specifics. Presumably, the Raiders will eventually give into Mendoza’s demands, and it’s likely Simpson’s camp is seeing how that process plays out before they commit to the Rams. Carson Beck and Drew Allar won’t be able to make the same push as their first-round counterparts, but there’s a chance those rookies are also waiting to see how the other QBs succeed with their contract requests.
Patriots second-round EDGE Gabe Jacas and Raiders fourth-round CB Jermod McCoy both have injury concerns, and we can assume their agents are trying to provide their clients with as much protection as possible. The same can’t be said of Bears third-round TE Sam Roush or Texans fourth-round OL Febechi Nwaiwu, who curiously remain unsigned.
While it’s notable that the above grouping remains without a contract, it isn’t overly concerning. However, if these contract stare downs continue late into July, they’ll certainly be stories to monitor ahead of training camp.
Raiders’ Day 3 CBs Competing For Starting Jobs
One of the Raiders’ Day 3 picks is making an early push for a starting cornerback job. And no, it is not former Tennessee star Jermod McCoy, who was considered a first-round prospect but fell to the fourth round due to a degenerative knee condition.
Instead, fifth-rounder Hezekiah Masses has emerged as an early candidate to start on the boundary opposite Eric Stokes. At mandatory minicamp, Masses split first-team reps with 2025 third-rounder Darien Porter, per ESPN’s Ryan McFadden, indicating some early optimism from the Raiders’ coaching staff.
Masses, who turns 22 years old on June 30, earned a starting job partway through his freshman year at FIU and carrier it though the subsequent two seasons (via Dane Brugler of The Athletic). In 2025, he transferred to Cal, where he logged career-best marks of 47 tackles, 13 passes defended (also an FBS-high), and five interceptions. He earned second-team All-American and first-team All-ACC honors for his efforts, but his thin frame and below-average athletic profile raised questions about his ability to transition to the NFL. It’s worth noting, though, that Masses was extremely durable in college and appeared in 49 straight games over the last four seasons.
Jumping straight into a starting role will still be an uphill climb for Masses, but a thin, young cornerback room in Las Vegas offers him a clear opening. Stokes signed a three-year to return to his starting role and Porter started 10 games last year, but no other Raiders cornerback played more than 10 snaps on the boundary (in the NFL) last year, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required).
McCoy, who missed all of last season due to a torn ACL, has participated in spring practices but a carefully managed workload has limited his ability to stand out. He will still be in the mix for a starting job, McFadden notes. If the former Volunteeer can return to – or even approach – his spectacular form from the 2024 season, he should find himself playing in regular season games sooner rather than later.
Raiders CB Jermod McCoy On Track For Training Camp
Jermod McCoy was arguably the No. 1 cornerback available a few weeks before the draft, but serious concerns over his knee led to a precipitous drop down the board. McCoy lasted until the first pick in the fourth round, where the Raiders took a flier at No. 101 overall.
The Raiders have taken it easy with McCoy during their offseason program, but it appears he will ramp up activities when training camp opens in July. McCoy is on schedule to be a full participant, according to Vincent Bonsignore of the California Post. There are not any “new issues” with his knee, per Bonsignore.
McCoy hasn’t played a down of football since 2024, when he was a second-team All-American at Tennessee. The 6-foot-1, 188-pounder deflected nine passes and came down with four interceptions in 13 games that year, but he was unable to build on it in 2025 after tearing his ACL. McCoy bounced back nicely in February at the Combine, where he showed off his athleticism with a 4.37-second 40-yard dash, a 38-inch vertical jump and a 10-foot, 7-inch broad jump.
While his Combine showing was encouraging, there was nonetheless plenty of leeriness toward McCoy going into the draft. The ACL injury had little to do with his stock plummeting in the first place. Rather, as NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero said before the draft, “the concern is about a bone plug that was used to repair a cartilage defect in his knee.” If McCoy eventually requires surgery to replace the bone plug, it would likely shelve him for at least a year. Worse, there is a good chance an unsuccessful procedure would end his career.
There was too much risk for any team to spend a high pick on McCoy, but he could emerge as a mid-round steal for the Raiders if his knee holds up. Also a former Oregon State corner, McCoy picked off six passes in two college seasons. Las Vegas, whose defense tied for 27th in INTs last year, would welcome that type of playmaking ability. If McCoy is indeed a full go when camp rolls around, he will presumably compete with Darien Porter for the Raiders’ No. 2 corner job opposite Eric Stokes. McCoy’s performance in camp and during the preseason will count among the Raiders’ most interesting storylines this summer.
Myles Garrett Trade Fallout: Rams, Eagles, Carter, Browns, Verse, McCoy
The trade that sent longtime Browns defensive end Myles Garrett to the Super Bowl-hopeful Rams was a long time in the making — two months and four days, to be exact. According to Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, that’s how long it took for negotiations between Rams general manager Les Snead and his Browns counterpart, Andrew Berry, to conclude.
This wasn’t the first time the Rams had sent an offer to Cleveland; it wasn’t even the second. Los Angeles went shopping for pass rushers around the trade deadline in 2022 and, among offers to several other teams, offered two first-round picks and a fourth-rounder for Garrett, though Berry has no interest in trading him at the time. Then, following this past season, Snead called the Browns in late March and upped the offer.
The offer purely comprising of draft capital was not going to be enough, as Cleveland made clear following the draft that Rams defensive end Jared Verse would have to be a part of any trade, but it demonstrated how serious Los Angeles was about getting a deal done.
Over the long course of these negotiations, Berry made sure to keep Garrett in the loop. Per Breer, Garrett wasn’t the only one hearing from Berry. The seventh-year GM reportedly reached out to three well-known personnel executives in other sports. St. Louis Cardinals president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom, Oklahoma City Thunder GM Sam Presti, and Pittsburgh Penguins GM Kyle Dubas were trusted for advice and expertise, especially given Bloom and Presti’s trade experience in their respective sports. The trio’s input led to the team’s insistence on getting a player — not just draft picks — in the return-side of the trade.
Before ultimately agreeing to the final terms, Jimmy Haslam and his family hosted Berry and Garrett for one last meeting to reminisce and make sure Garrett was good with how things were concluding. Garrett’s contract included a no-trade clause, so his go-ahead was a crucial part of the deal, and according to ESPN’s Sarah Barshop, it was a decision Garrett needed to “sleep on” before finally waiving the no-trade clause.
In the immediate fallout of the trade, some rumors emerged that the Eagles had been a team that expressed interest in trading for Garrett and that defensive tackle Jalen Carter was a potential trade target for Cleveland. Negating that notion, Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com reported this week that Philadelphia “never made a play” for Garrett and that “there’s zero chance they would’ve wanted (Carter) in return.”
The player the Browns did want, Verse, also had some negative feelings about being traded, not towards his new team but in regard to leaving his home of the past two seasons. After the Rams drafted Verse at No. 19 overall in 2024, Verse rewarded them with two Pro Bowl campaigns to go along with his own Defensive Rookie of the Year honors.
In his introductory news conference in Cleveland (via Andy Backstrom of Yahoo Sports), Verse told the media, “I loved LA. I loved the coaches, the organization, my teammates, everybody a part of it, the fans — I loved the whole vibe of LA, the Los Angeles Rams, and it was upsetting. I was upset for a good little bit of time.”
The last tidbit of information relayed by Breer pertains to a different trade the team performed in the offseason. Los Angeles traded its second first-round pick in this past year’s draft, the 29th overall pick, to Kansas City in a package of picks that landed them Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie in return. Per Breer, the Rams had interest in Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy at the end of the first round, but when his draft stock plummeted for medical reasons, the team pivoted and made the move for McDuffie. McDuffie and Garrett now stand as two gigantic additions to a team looking to make the most of veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford‘s last few good years.
Raiders Optimistic CB Jermod McCoy Can Play In 2026, Avoid Immediate Surgery
MAY 25: McCoy worked off to the side during rookie minicamp, but The Athletic’s Sam Warren notes he participated in all aspects of the Raiders’ early OTA work. That is of course an encouraging sign regarding his health leading up to training camp and his debut season in the NFL.
MAY 3: As the 2026 draft rolled along, cornerback Jermod McCoy‘s continued slide down the board became one of the event’s biggest storylines. That was not a surprising development; an obvious first-round talent, predraft reports indicated McCoy’s stock could be undermined by the long-term prognosis for his medically-repaired knee.
Eventually, the Raiders put an end to McCoy’s free fall by selecting the Oregon State and Tennessee product with the first pick of Round 4 (No. 101 overall). Naturally, Las Vegas did plenty of research on the knee, as ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler writes. Fowler says the club is optimistic about McCoy’s chances to suit up in 2026 and to avoid immediate surgery, even if he will need some sort of operation in the future.
But it was not McCoy’s short-term availability that gave teams pause. Despite missing the entirety of the 2025 slate due to an ACL tear, McCoy performed well at Tennessee’s pro day in March. He ran a 4.37-second 40-yard dash, logged a 38-inch vertical jump, and registered a 10-foot, 7-inch broad jump. His ACL is reportedly a non-issue; the bigger concern is a bone plug that was used to repair a cartilage defect in his knee, a plug that may need to be replaced down the road. Such a procedure could sideline McCoy for an entire season, and an unsuccessful surgery could end his career.
Fowler polled eight teams after Day 2 of the draft, and five of them said they had removed McCoy from their draft boards entirely. The Raiders clearly believed McCoy’s upside was worth a Day 3 gamble, and if his knee holds up, Las Vegas may have gotten a steal.
McCoy solidified his status as one of the most talented CBs in the country with a tremendous 2024 campaign in which he had more interceptions (four) than touchdowns allowed (two). He also limited opposing passers to a miniscule 53.6 passer rating, and his performance led to second-team All-American and second-team All-SEC honors.
The rebuilding Raiders also acquired Taron Johnson to bolster their secondary this offseason, although Johnson is ticketed for the slot. If healthy, McCoy will join Eric Stokes and Darien Porter as Vegas’ top boundary options.
In his report on McCoy, Fowler quoted a rival executive who said, “this felt like [general manager] John Spytek’s draft.” Given that Spytek’s first draft in the GM chair was heavily influenced by one-and-done head coach Pete Carroll, that is considered positive news.
Raiders Acquire 101st Pick, Draft Jermod McCoy
The fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft kicked off with a trade on Saturday. The Raiders acquired the 101st pick from the Bills and selected Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy. The Bills received pick 102 and a 2027 seventh-rounder in return, per Albert Breer of SI.com.
The 101st pick changed hands twice. The Bills acquired it from the Titans on Thursday before sending it to the Raiders. Las Vegas used the choice on one of the highest-upside corners in the draft. Once considered a shoo-in to go in the first round (perhaps in the top 10), McCoy’s stock dropped precipitously amid concerns over a cartilage defect in his knee.
McCoy missed all of last season with a torn ACL, but that is not what scared teams away. Rather, he may eventually require surgery to replace a bone plug in the same knee, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. Another surgery would likely knock out McCoy for an entire year, according to Yahoo Sports’ Charles Robinson, who adds that an unsuccessful procedure could end his career.
While there are legitimate fears over McCoy’s longevity, the Raiders are nonetheless taking a mid-round flier on one of the most talented defenders in this class. McCoy was among the 20 best prospects available entering the proceedings, according to Dane Brugler of The Athletic (No. 14) and Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com (No. 19). The 6-foot, 188-pounder combined for six interceptions in a two-year college career split between Oregon State and Tennessee. He was a second-team All-American in 2024, his lone healthy season with the Volunteers.
McCoy is the second noteworthy offseason cornerback pickup for the Raiders, who previously added slot corner Taron Johnson in another trade with the Bills. If healthy, McCoy will join Eric Stokes and 2025 third-rounder Darien Porter among the Raiders’ top options on the outside.
Multiple Teams Looking To Move Up In 2nd Round
Day 1 of the 2026 NFL Draft was packed with trades. Teams were constantly shuffling the order as they attempted to secure coveted prospects and/or extra draft capital.
The picks are expected to continue flying around on Day 2 with clubs jockeying for top talents who fell out of the first round. Several are looking to move up to the top of the second round, including the Dolphins, Saints, Browns, Steelers, and Jaguars, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. He mentions four players are potential trade-up targets: Ohio State defensive tackle Kayden McDonald, Tennesse cornerbacks Colton Hood and Jermod McCoy, and Washington wide receiver Denzel Boston.
The Dolphins drafted two nose tackles in Kenneth Grant and Jordan Phillips last year, so trading up for a third in McDonald would make little sense. Their cornerback room was a major liability last year and only saw marginal upgrades in free agency, so either Hood or McCoy could be targets. And of course, trading Jaylen Waddle created a major need at wide receiver in Miami. Boston could fill it.
Saints defensive tackles Nathan Shepherd and Davon Godchaux are both into their 30s and entering the final year of their contract, so the team could certainly target McDonald. They could stand to upgrade at cornerback behind 2024 second-rounder Kool-Aid McKinstry, but trading up to select another wide receiver after taking Jordyn Tyson at No. 8 overall seems unwise.
The Browns are known to have interest in wide receivers in this draft class, though Boston’s skillset may not be ideal for Todd Monken’s new offense. Cleveland could strengthen the interior of their defensive line, especially with a massive run-stuffer like McDonald. They have more talent at cornerback, but could stand to add a high-upside talent to the room.
The Steelers are likely looking to move up for a wide receiver after getting sniped for Makai Lemon by the Eagles in Round 1. They could move up as high as the 33rd overall pick, the first on Day 2, which is currently owned by the 49ers via trades with the Dolphins and Jets. San Francisco has received multiple calls about their selection and is open to moving it, per Pelissero.
Jacksonville would seem to be set at wide receiver with Jakobi Meyers, Brian Thomas, and Parker Washington. Travis Hunter is going to spend more time at cornerback in 2026, but he will still be available for some offensive packages. The Jaguars traded for defensive tackle Ruke Orhorhoro, this offseason, but they could still add depth, especially with DaVon Hamilton entering the final year of his contract. Similar to the Browns, they have a decent cornerback room right now but could stand to add more long-term upside.
The Jaguars also explored trading into the first round, per Ryan O’Halloran of The Florida Times-Union, though no deal materialized. General manager James Gladstone was aggressive in pursuing Hunter during last year’s draft, and his time under Rams GM Les Snead further indicates his willingness to chase his favorite prospects.
Colton Hood Could Be No. 2 CB In Draft
Thanks to growing concerns over the long-term health of his knee, Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy‘s stock appears to be trending down on the eve of the draft. McCoy might not even be the first Tennessee cornerback to come off the board. That honor could go to Colton Hood, Dan Graziano of ESPN reports. Hood may even be the first corner selected after LSU’s Mansoor Delane, per Graziano.
Hood spent his three years in college at three different schools. After redshirting as a freshman at Auburn, he transferred to Colorado in 2024. During his lone season playing under Deion Sanders, Hood intercepted two passes in 13 games. He could have helped replace the departed Travis Hunter last year, but Hood left for Tennessee instead. McCoy wound up missing the entire season with a torn ACL, meaning he and Hood never played together.
With McCoy out of commission in 2025, Hood served as the Vols’ top outside corner and totaled personal bests in tackles (50), passes defensed (eight) and TFL (4.5) in a dozen games. The 5-foot-11, 193-pounder also pulled in an interception, which he returned for a 23-yard touchdown, and picked up a second-team All-SEC nod. In his most recent pre-draft rankings, Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com places Hood 21st overall (two spots behind McCoy) and contends he is a “complete player” who should be a capable starter from the get-go.
While this is likely an incomplete list, we know Hood visited with at least six teams in the lead-up to the draft. Along with the Cowboys, he met with the Chiefs, Jets, Raiders, Texans and Seahawks. With the Raiders poised to use the No. 1 pick on quarterback Fernando Mendoza, they may be out on Hood unless they trade back into the first round for him. Hood’s stock has risen enough that he may not be available when the Raiders are on the clock again at 36. If Hood does end up as the second corner taken, the Texans (28th) and Seahawks (32nd) pick late enough in the first round that they also may be out of his range.
CB Jermod McCoy Could Slip In Draft Over Knee Concerns
Former Michigan cornerback Will Johnson was a potential first-round pick entering last year’s draft, but he slid to No. 47 (to the Cardinals) amid concerns over his knee. Tennessee corner Jermod McCoy may end up in a similar situation this year. While McCoy is arguably one of the two most talented players at his position, teams are wary over his knee.
McCoy missed all of last season as a result of a torn ACL, but the former second-team All-American showed no ill effects at Tennessee’s pro day on March 31. He ran a 4.37-second 40-yard dash, logged a 38-inch vertical jump and registered a 10-foot, 7-inch broad jump. McCoy’s ACL is “fine,” according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, though he reports “the concern is about a bone plug that was used to repair a cartilage defect in his knee.” Doctors believe McCoy could require another surgery to replace the bone plug, which would include a long recovery.
With the first round two nights away, one team told Connor Hughes of SNY it has taken McCoy off its board. At least four clubs have red-flagged his knee, per Hughes. Although Albert Breer of SI.com regarded McCoy a potential top-10 pick a week ago, he now considers the 6-foot, 188-pounder a prime candidate to fall down the board. Based on what Breer has heard, teams are not worried about whether McCoy will be ready for next season. Rather, they are unsure about his longevity. That is the same reason Johnson lasted as long as he did in the 2025 draft. Johnson went on to play well during a 10-start rookie year, but he missed five games as a result of groin, back and hip injuries.
If McCoy is poised for a draft free fall, the other top corners in the class would stand to benefit. Thanks in part to McCoy’s health woes, LSU’s Mansoor Delane looks like the clear-cut favorite to become the first corner taken on Thursday. He has a good chance to go in the top 10, Breer reports. Colton Hood (also from Tennessee), Clemson’s Avieon Terrell and San Diego State’s Chris Johnson are a few other first-round hopefuls.
Teams Medically Red-Flagged CB Jermod McCoy
Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy is one of the biggest X-factors in the 2026 draft class.
His tape from 2023 and 2024 show a first-round cornerback with sticky, physical coverage and plenty of ball production (16 passes defended, six interceptions). But a torn ACL in January 2025 sidelined him for his third season, depriving scouts of another year of film to evaluate. That would be especially important after McCoy’s breakout 2024, as opposing teams would have been able to offer new challenges in 2025.
McCoy only participated at the bench press at the Combine, preferring to wait until his pro day for the rest of his testing. That seemed to pay off, as a 4.4-second 40-yard dash and strong vertical and broad jumps boosted his stock with a month until the draft. Not only did he show that he was fully recovered from his ACL tear, but his numbers cemented assessments of his high-end athleticism and seemed to lock him into a first-round pick.
However, teams have medically red-flagged the 20-year-old for a potentially degenerative knee condition, per EssentiallySports’ Tony Pauline. This could take him off some boards entirely, while others may drop his grade by a half or full round. This could result in a similar fall to Will Johnson‘s in 2025, when the projected first-rounder was not selected until the third round.
However, as Pauline notes, “medical opinions differ team by team since there is no central body to govern a physical.” Some clubs are willing to tolerate more injury risk than others, especially if they see McCoy as a potential lockdown cornerback