​There was a strong sense that the Las Vegas Raiders could land a standout Day 3 pick who would grab headlines as a potential starting cornerback. The Silver & Black opened the third day of the 2026 NFL Draft by moving up in the fourth round to take Tennessee’s Jermod McCoy with the 101st overall selection, the first pick of the round. Once regarded as a first-round talent before an ACL injury, the Volunteers’ cornerback is precisely the kind of aggressive ball hawk the Raiders have been seeking.
Yet, it isn’t McCoy drawing the eye from the Las Vegas coaching staff this offseason. Fifth-round selection Hezekiah Masses broke out during mandatory minicamp last month, consistently sharing first-team reps with 2025 third-round pick 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 observed after watching the workouts. “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 a touchdown, 25 pass deflections, 1 forced fumble, 2 fumble recoveries
At 6-foot-1 and 185 pounds, the 22-year-old recently celebrated his birthday and demonstrated last season at Cal that he can be a true playmaker, snaring five interceptions and deflecting 13 passes. For a Raiders team that recorded just eight interceptions in 2025, ranking 27th in the league, a cornerback with reliable ball skills would be a much-needed boost. Masses already shows the kind of instinct that makes a defense better: eyes trained on the football, not just the receiver, and a knack for creating turnovers.
Masses appears to possess the instincts necessary to read routes and anticipate throws, which translates into more impactful plays on defense. He tracks the flight of the ball with precision, timing his breaks to contest passes and amplify turnover potential. This is the essence of a true ballhawk cornerback—someone who can turn opportunities into points for the team.
In press coverage, Masses delivers a firm jab, disrupting timing and slowing wide receivers off the line. When combined with his ability to mirror both man and zone coverages, Masses becomes an appealing option for the Raiders’ outside corner spot. It’s puzzling that a talent of his caliber remained on the board into the fifth round, but it’s precisely the kind of value-add that can pay dividends for a franchise looking to bolster its secondary.
The optimism surrounding Masses isn’t just chatter; it’s grounded in tangible offseason development. Translating a strong, turnover-laden season into the spotlight of a new league year signals a trend rather than a one-off performance. If Masses can maintain the momentum he showed in mandatory minicamp through training camp and into the regular season, the Raiders could have a bona fide playmaker at corner—someone capable of changing the dynamic of their pass defense in a league where interceptions and pass deflections are precious commodities.
“I’m excited for what’s ahead,” Masses said, underscoring his readiness to contribute. “There are a couple of young guys, but we’re coming in.” His words reflect a growing belief within the Raiders organization that Masses could be part of a larger, more disruptive secondary. The potential is there for Masses to be more than a depth piece; he could become a cornerstone of the Raiders’ pass defense in the not-too-distant future, adding a level of bite and opportunistic playmaking the team has long sought.