Silver And Black Pride
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
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...
