The Raiders’ rookie class is going to be under the microscope when training camp opens, and the spotlight lands hardest on the defensive backs. Las Vegas used 10 draft picks this offseason, and a chunk of the biggest questions hanging over the roster are tied directly to the positions it addressed in April.
At the top of that list is Stukes, a rookie the Raiders clearly have big plans for even if the exact role is still a mystery. The new-look defense is expected to feature a lot of moving parts, with different fronts and coverages in play, and Stukes could wind up all over the field in 2026.
That flexibility is part of what makes him such a major name to watch, but it also means the Raiders still have to sort out where he fits with the rest of the pieces. Among the rookies, only Fernando Mendoza carries comparable expectations.
How Stukes handles camp - especially once the pads come on and practice gets more physical - will matter for what the Raiders look like in 2026.
Crawford is another rookie who should draw plenty of attention as camp unfolds. He still has development ahead of him, but the physical traits are already there, and the Raiders believe he can grow into something bigger.
The release of Charles Snowden opens the door a bit more, and Crawford has a chance to see the field early if he can turn those tools into production. Las Vegas is not rushing him, though.
Veterans are ahead of him for now, and the key for Crawford is simple: earn the reps, then make them count.
Jermod McCoy comes with a different kind of intrigue. The Raiders landed what they see as first-round talent in the fourth round, and that alone makes him worth tracking closely during camp.
There’s still uncertainty around what to expect right now, and that unknown is part of the appeal. If McCoy strings together strong practices, that would be a win for Las Vegas, but his development is going to be a story that stretches beyond this season.
Klint Kubiak was encouraged by what he saw from McCoy after rookie minicamp, saying, “He's been excellent. He's come in here and worked his tail off, doing everything that we've asked him to do. He's got out there on the practice field and has shown the player that we've seen on tape,” Kubiak said following rookie minicamp.
“So just looking forward to progressing him, along with all those new DBs. It's an impressive group, really well-coached group by Joe [Woods] and Matt [Robinson] and Robbie [Leonard]. Very competitive young men right now in that defensive back room."
Hezekiah Masses is another rookie defensive back who could force his way into the conversation. He may not get the same attention as some of the others, but the Raiders need help in the secondary, and Masses has a real chance to climb if he performs well in camp. Las Vegas added multiple defensive backs for a reason, and that competition should keep the pressure on everyone in the room.
Kubiak has already pointed to Masses as part of that push, saying earlier this offseason, “It's just a credit to John [Spytek] for getting so much competition in that room, and we want to keep pushing the starters. And young guys like Zeke [Hezekiah Masses] have had some good springs,” Kubiak said earlier this offseason when asked about Masses' potential.
“I'm happy with his work ethic, again, just like everybody else on the roster. What is he going to do when the pads come on? What are you going to do, Zeke, if you're listening?”
If McCoy and Masses both deliver, the Raiders would be in a better spot in their rebuild than many might expect. But McCoy’s injury history leaves that outcome uncertain, which only increases the importance of Masses if McCoy cannot stay on track. The way those two rookies develop was clearly no accident, and the Raiders’ secondary may end up depending on how quickly they can turn that draft investment into dependable play.
Training camp will sort out plenty of those questions soon enough.
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