The Las Vegas Raiders made upgrading their secondary a priority during the 2026 NFL Draft, and one rookie is already turning heads before training camp even begins. Fifth-round cornerback Hezekiah Masses is making an early case to earn a starting role after an impressive showing during the team’s offseason program. According to ESPN’s Ryan McFadden, Masses has emerged as a legitimate contender for one of the Raiders’ starting outside cornerback positions.
During mandatory minicamp, the rookie frequently rotated with second-year cornerback Darien Porter alongside the first-team defense, signaling that the coaching staff wants an extended look at what the young defensive back can offer.
Reporters in attendance noted that Masses consistently looked comfortable during the portions of practice open to the media.
While offseason practices are far from a guarantee of regular-season success, earning first-team repetitions this early is an encouraging sign for the rookie.
Journey to the NFL
Masses took an unconventional path to the NFL. He spent three seasons at Florida International before transferring to California for the 2025 season.
The move paid immediate dividends. In his lone season with the Golden Bears, Masses developed into one of the ACC’s top defensive backs, earning First-Team All-ACC honors before hearing his name called by the Raiders in the fifth round.
Now he’s attempting to complete another leap this time from late-round draft pick to NFL starter.
Raiders Betting on Youth
Masses is part of a youth movement in Las Vegas’ secondary.
The Raiders selected four defensive backs during the 2026 NFL Draft:
- Cornerback Hezekiah Masses
- Cornerback Jermond McCoy
- Safety Treydan Stukes
- Safety Dalton Johnson
Those additions reflect the organization’s commitment to rebuilding the defensive backfield with young, athletic talent.
With several roster spots still up for grabs entering training camp, every preseason rep will matter.
Opportunity Is There
Masses’ biggest competition currently appears to be Darien Porter, last year’s third-round selection who started 10 games as a rookie. Rather than handing Porter the job outright, the Raiders are allowing the competition to play out—a philosophy new head coach Klint Kubiak and the coaching staff have emphasized throughout the offseason.
If Masses continues to impress once pads come on in training camp, the fifth-round selection could become one of the biggest steals of the Raiders’ 2026 draft class. For a defense looking to take a major step forward this season, contributions from rookies like Masses may prove essential to turning potential into production.
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Robert LaMar is a Deputy Editor for Dice City Sports. You can follow him on X via @RobertLaMar26
