Las Vegas Raiders Day 3 rookie may have just shocked the entire fan base in training camp, and it was only Day 1
The Las Vegas Raiders started training camp on Wednesday, and Day 3 rookie cornerback Hezekiah Masses is already shocking people.
The Las Vegas Raiders started training camp on Wednesday. From everything we saw and heard, it seemed to be a successful one. And, we already have a bit of shocking news, you could say.
According to several reporters at training camp, Day 3 rookie cornerback Hezekiah Masses started the practice as a starter. He ran with the ones, meaning he was the starter. Now, that doesn’t mean he will be the starter to start the season. But it does mean the team is already looking at him as a starter in the cornerback room. And that position does seem to be wide open at the moment.
On the first day of Mandatory Minicamp, Masses, taken in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft, and Darien Porter, the third-round pick last season and presumed starter for 2026, were rotating reps at corner opposite Eric Stokes. So, you could kind of see this coming. However, his being a fifth-round rookie tells the whole story of this being a surprise.
Raiders cornerback room is wide open outside of one spot
Stokes holds down the top cornerback spot on the roster after earning a new contract thanks to his impressive play. However, the other starting cornerback job remains uncertain. While many expected Porter—last year’s third-round pick who performed decently late in the season—to automatically secure the role, that may not be a guarantee.
The Raiders could be setting up real competition for the position, or perhaps it’s simply an opportunity to get more practice reps. Regardless, Porter should be motivated by this situation.
They also have guys like Decamerion Richardson and Jermod McCoy. Both are talented, and both need roles on this defense. The Raiders currently have a good problem on their hands. However, there can be two things wrong with Hezekiah Masses being a starter. Either their CB room is that bad that a rookie fifth-rounder is the starter. Or, everyone overlooked Masses very badly, and he’s actually that good. We could find out the answer to those questions soon.
The Raiders’ draft class features several players who share important qualities. Many are exceptionally intelligent on the field, as evidenced by their game film. They also bring versatility, with the ability to contribute at different positions. Most importantly, these newcomers have the talent to compete for significant playing time from the start. If Masses is among this group, it would be a major boost for the team.