The Raiders’ rookie class has already started sorting itself out in training camp, and the early picture is pretty clear: a few first-year players are making real noise, while others are drifting into the background.
Las Vegas brought in 10 draft picks this offseason, and training camp has given Klint Kubiak’s staff a much better read on who’s ready to push for a role and who still has ground to make up. A couple of rookies, including Trey Zuhn and Dalton Johnson, are basically doing what was expected of them in reserve roles. But for others, the stock is moving.
At cornerback, the door was already cracked open. The Raiders’ search for dependable play at the position has been ongoing for years, and they knew they needed help there again.
That’s part of why rookie cornerback Hezekiah Masses has been such an encouraging development early in camp. He has started climbing the depth chart after showing cover skills that stand out on a roster that already includes Eric Stokes.
Defensive backs coach Joe Woods didn’t hide what he’s seeing from Masses.
"He can cover. I'm all about getting on the body just in terms of being tight whenever we play press. He has that skill set,” Woods said following training camp.
“There’s some guys in the past that he reminds me of in terms of quickness, like Denzel Ward had that extreme lateral quickness where he can get on the body. He has that same type of trait. Not saying he's Denzel, he's got a long way to go, but there are some really good things that he's doing."
That matters for a Raiders secondary that’s still being rebuilt. Las Vegas has drafted three cornerbacks over the past two seasons and added two more in free agency, but the work is far from finished. With Stokes and Taron Johnson at the top of the group, the Raiders still need others to emerge, especially in a division loaded with high-end quarterbacks.
Not every rookie has taken the same path. Cleveland, who works along the interior defensive line, hasn’t done anything glaringly wrong, but he also hasn’t separated himself.
That’s part of why he’s slipping on the depth chart. The competition is especially stiff there, with the Raiders’ interior defensive line group arguably their deepest position room.
That said, Cleveland was a seventh-round pick, so a little movement downward isn’t exactly a surprise. The bigger question is whether he can start stacking better practices and find a way to move back up.
Another rookie who has taken a positive step is Benson. Like Masses, he’s in a spot where the Raiders are still sorting things out, and that opens the door for someone who can make a case with every rep. Benson has done that so far, and he brings added value because of what he can do on special teams and what his speed means when the ball is in his hands.
Quarterbacks coach Mike Sullivan had praise for him after training camp.
"Malik has done a great job. We're happy he's here.
I know Fernando's happy he's here. I think when you have all of the young guys that come together, there's a benefit obviously to that.
Just learning the subtle nuances and the body language," Sullivan said following training camp.
“If that can help the anticipation, then we're able to get that ball out and have that timing that we talked about, which everybody likes. Certainly, the o-line coach likes it. And not taking sacks or making bad decisions, so that's definitely a benefit for us."
In Other News...
Raiders Receiver Battle Is Starting To Reveal A Clear Favorite
The Raiders wide receiver picture for 2026 is starting to come into focus, and it looks like Tre Tucker has separated himself from the pack. ESPN insider Dan Graziano pointed to Tucker as the leading candidate to become Las Vegas No. 1 option, a development that fits with the kind of step forward he is expected to make after a notable 2025 season. For a team looking to identify a true top target, that kind of early edge matters.
Jalen Nailor is still very much in the mix as the most serious challenger, but the rest of the room appears to be chasing from a bit farther back. Jack Bech, Dont'e Thornton Jr. and Malik Benson are all in the conversation as the Raiders sort through their long-term receiving hierarchy, yet none is currently viewed as having the same path to the top role. The competition is there, but the early read suggests Las Vegas may already have a front-runner. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders May Have Finally Found A Young Starter To Believe In
Tonka Hemingway has been one of the more interesting developments in Raiders camp, and not just because he is getting a long look in a crowded defensive line room. The second-year defensive tackle has been logging significant reps, drawing positive attention from coaches and teammates, and earning a place on the teams unofficial depth chart as a starter. For a defense looking to sort out its interior rotation, that kind of early trust matters.
Hemingway also arrives with some momentum from the end of his rookie season, when he flashed enough to make people around the team believe there could be something real there. He has shown he can help against both the run and the pass, which is exactly the sort of two-way value that can keep a young lineman on the field. The Raiders are still in evaluation mode, but Hemingway is giving them a reason to think they may have found someone worth building around. [Read more 🡒]