The NFL Draft is just around the corner, and the Cincinnati Bengals hold a fascinating pick at No. 10 overall. While a clear top tier of prospects exists, the Bengals' position means they might need some draft-night surprises to land one of those coveted names. This uncertainty has led to a bold prediction from The Athletic's Paul Dehner Jr., who projects Cincinnati to select Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy.

This projection comes with a significant caveat: McCoy is recovering from an ACL tear suffered in early 2025, which caused him to miss the entire season. The injury is serious enough that, as noted by draft expert Dane Brugler, several NFL teams have reportedly taken McCoy off their draft boards entirely. For a franchise with recent memories of first-round injuries, this scenario feels all too familiar.

However, the logic for the Bengals taking the risk is compelling. Cornerback remains a glaring short- and long-term need, especially after their defensive moves this offseason. McCoy, when healthy, is considered one of the most athletic and talented cover corners in this class, boasting elite tape, a ball-hawking reputation, and SEC pedigree. At pick No. 10, a player of his caliber—without the injury—would almost certainly be gone.

He represents the kind of shutdown, man-to-man corner that teams rarely get a chance to draft outside the top five. For a Bengals team that has historically built its secondary through the draft—remember the first-round corners of the Dalton-Lewis playoff era?—McCoy could be a high-risk, high-reward gamble to solidify the defense for years to come. It's a classic draft dilemma: pass on a top-tier talent due to medical concerns, or seize the opportunity to fill a major hole with a potential star.