A Fifth-Round Rookie Is ALREADY Taking Starting Reps For the Raiders, And That's A Problem For Their Rivals

Alright, listen up, Emerald City! You gotta hear about what's popping off down south, and no, it ain't good news for anyone who bleeds true blue and green. The Las Vegas Raiders, yeah *those* guys, have a fifth-round rookie cornerback named Hezekiah Masses who is already making some serious noise. We're talking about a dude drafted way late, and he's *already* in the mix for a starting outside cornerback gig. You seeing this? A fifth-rounder, pushing for starter status this early. That's a red flag for the rest of the league, and especially for their rivals.

This Kid Is Not Wasting Any Time

Seriously, this Masses kid, a fifth-round pick from the 2026 draft, is showing out. The Raiders knew they needed help in the secondary, so they grabbed four defensive backs in that draft. Masses was the last one, and he's the one turning heads right now. Reports from their minicamp say he's alternating first-team reps with Darien Porter, who was a 2025 third-round pick and started 10 games last season as a rookie himself. Reporters who were actually there watching the offseason practices confirmed that Masses looked good. This ain't some fluke, this is a legitima

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te early impression. Masses played three college seasons at FIU before transferring to Cal in 2025, where he even earned first-team All-ACC honors. The talent is there, and it looks like he's translating it fast.

Raiders' Young Secondary Has To Grow Up Fast

Let's be real, the Raiders were hunting for secondary help for a reason. Beyond Masses, they also drafted another cornerback, Jermond McCoy, and safeties Treydan Stukes and Dalton Johnson. It means they're going to roll out a super young secondary this season. A young secondary, man. That's a huge gamble. Remember when we had young guys back there and how much they had to learn on the fly? Now, for the Raiders, they're banking on all these young defensive backs to be ready in a hurry. If a fifth-round guy like Masses is already snagging first-team reps, it tells you two things: one, the kid is good, and two, they *really* need talent to step up ASAP. So, what does this mean? We gotta keep an eye on this kid, Hezekiah Masses. If he locks down a starting spot, that's a serious steal for the Raiders, and it means their young secondary might just mature faster than anyone expected. It's early, but these flashes in minicamp are huge indicators. Let's see if this kid can actually make it happen when the pads come on.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.