By admin 
The Raiders used four picks in the draft to try and solidify their secondary. After a hot start to training camp, the hype has cooled off for the rookies.
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Hezekiah Masses created the most buzz at the start of training camp. The rookie out of Cal could bring ball-hawking skills to a secondary that finished 31st in passes defended last season. Masses led the country in defended passes last year.
But in his first preseason game, Masses was targeted four times and gave up four receptions. He didn’t make any plays on the ball.
Jermod McCoy was a projected first-round talent who fell to the fourth round due to injury concerns. Head coach Klint Kubiak is pleased with McCoy’s recovery, as the rookie has only missed practice when it was a scheduled rest day.
But similarly to Masses, he struggled against the Cardinals in his preseason debut. He was also targeted four times and allowed four receptions, two of which went for touchdowns, as he struggled to defend back-shoulder fades. See the full Raiders’ stock up and down from Week 1.
Those struggles have led to a more stable snap rotation in the secondary.
Raiders cornerback depth chart favors Porter, Stokes
None of the Raiders’ rookies took snaps with the starters at Monday’s practice. Eric Stokes and Darien Porter were the top two cornerbacks. Masses ran with the second unit, and McCoy was relegated to third-team reps.
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It is important to note that the two rookie cornerbacks were not the only ones who struggled last week. The entire secondary was torched by Jacoby Brissett and Gardner Minshew. Read more about the penalty and pass-defense concerns from Week 1. The Raiders’ defense gave up 27 points and didn’t get a single stop in the first half.
This week brings a test in Houston, as the depth chart risers at cornerback face two days of joint practices followed by Thursday’s preseason matchup with the Texans. How the Raiders divide snaps over the next three days will be a peek into how the coaching staff views the battle for starting spots.
Even if the Raiders decide their rookies are best left with the second team, they should still get chances with the starters, or more importantly, against the Texans’ starters.
The Raiders will need young players to turn into stars, or at least competent starters, over the next couple of seasons to climb out of the basement of the NFL. Burying Masses and McCoy when there is an opportunity to test them against another team would be foolish.
Even if they struggle, it is still just preseason, the perfect time to make mistakes.
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This story was originally published August 18, 2026 at 6:08 AM.