There was a high likelihood the Las Vegas Raiders would have a standout Day 3 draft pick making heads turn as a potential starting cornerback.
After all, the Silver & Black kicked off the third day of the 2026 NFL Draft by trading up in the fourth round to select Tennessee’s Jermod McCoy with the 101st overall selection (the opening pick of the round). Lauded for takeaway skills and earmarked as a first-round talent before an ACL injury, the Volunteers’ cornerback is the type the Raiders sorely need.
But alas, it isn’t McCoy who impressed the Las Vegas coaching staff thus far through the offseason. Fifth-round pick Hezekiah Masses emerged during mandatory minicamp last month to split first-team reps with 2025 third-rounder Darien Porter.
“During minicamp, he alternated first-team reps with second-year corner Darien Porter. And at times, Masses’ ball skills and man-to-man coverage ability were on display,” ESPN’s Jeremy McFadden wrote after observing the minicamp work. “Expect him to be in the mix for the starting outside cornerback role, along with Porter and fellow rookie Jermod McCoy.”
By The Numbers
Hezekiah Masses, Cornerback, Cal
- 2025: 13 games, 47 total tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 5 interceptions, 18 pass deflections
- Career: (2022-25), 49 games, 152 total tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 7 interceptions, 1 interception returned for touchdown, 25 pass deflections, 1 forced fumble, 2 fumble recoveries
At 6-foot-1 and 185 pounds, the just-recently-turned 22-year-old showcased his thievery skills last season with Cal picking off five passes to go alongside 13 passes defensed. For team like the Raiders — that picked off a meager eight passes in 2025 ranking them 27th in a league of 32 teams — a ball hawk cornerback will be a welcome sight.
Like a predatory bird locked into it’s prey, Masses eyes the football with purpose. His uncanny ability to challenge passes highlights an integral cornerback trait for playing the ball rather than the man. With his eyes forward, Masses can anticipate route breaks and takeaway the football because of those innate instincts.
Masses deploys a stiff jab in press coverage to disrupt timing and slow wide receivers off the snap. Couple that with Masses ability to mirror in man and zone coverages and it’s a wonder why the Golden Bears cornerback was still in the draft pool in the fifth round.
Masses being able to translate a strong interception and passes defenses-filled 2025 campaign into the offseason as a neophyte win Las Vegas merits attention. It trends towards a sensational senior season at Cal not being a fluke. And it’s been quite a while since the Raiders deployed a play-making cornerback in the secondary. Silver & Black corners aren’t paragons for finding the football and Masses arrival can change that in a hurry.
“Oh, that excites me. There are a couple young guys, but we’re coming in,” Masses said when asked about the defense the Raiders are putting together during a video conference call after he was drafted. They brought me, and I’m coming to change the program.”
He must continue to be confident and productive when the team reconvenes for training camp later this month. That’s when pads come on and the team’s physicality exponentially rises. And being able to continue strong ball and coverage skills in full pads goes a long way for Masses.
Also helping the Masses’ cause: The Raiders’ cornerback room is chock full of youngsters looking to establish themselves.
Veteran slot cornerback Taron Johnson is the oldest of the group at 29 with fellow veteran Eric Stokes (the assumed CB1 of the group) following at 27 years old. Porter heads into Year 2 at 25 years old and 2024 fourth-round pick Decamerion Richardson is the same age. Then there’s Masses and McCoy and the latter is the youngest Raider on the roster at just 20 years old (turns 21 on August 16).
In total, Las Vegas has nine cornerbacks on the 90-man roster and the starting spot opposite of Stokes is wide open for someone to seize.
Porter, Masses, and McCoy are the top trio fighting for the boundary duties. All three come with solid size — Porter is 6-foot-3 and 195 pounds; McCoy stands 6-feet and 193 pounds — to handle outside duties and each boasts the requisite long speed to hang vertically with fleet-footed wide receivers. Battling that three are Richardson, 2025 undrafted free agent (UDFA) Greedy Vance, 2026 UDFA Caleb Offord, and Chigozie Anusiem.
Masses continuing to show the playmaking ability as the Raiders proceed towards training camp, preseason games, and Week 1 of the regular season is what’ll keep the Florida native in the mix.
His ability to read and react resulted in takeaways during his college days but it also netted him penalties which highlighted sloppiness. While he was able to anticipate what wide receivers intended to do, but when pass catchers does something differently, Masses had a penchant to panic grab or physically impede progress for penalties. Trusting his instincts more helps alleviate though and bears watching.
Masses’ continuing to find the ball and take it away would be a godsend to the Raiders. He’s got similar size and skillsets to Tory James, a 6-foot-2 and 192-pound cornerback who wore the Silver & Black from 2000-02, that notched 11 interceptions in three seasons with the Raiders. James went on to play four more seasons as he picked off 21 passes for the Cincinnati Bengals from 2003-06.
