The Las Vegas Raiders continued their aggressive rebuild of the secondary on the third day of the 2026 NFL Draft, selecting cornerback Hezekiah Masses out of California with the No. 175 overall pick. The pick, made in the sixth round, officially marks the fourth defensive back the Raiders have taken in this year's draft -- a clear sign that the front office is prioritizing coverage and depth on the back end.
Masses arrives in Las Vegas as a former two-star recruit who worked his way from relative obscurity to a starting role with the Golden Bears. It's the kind of development story that Raiders general manager John Spytek has gravitated toward in recent years: a player with measurable traits, a chip on his shoulder, and a production curve pointing up.
But the Masses pick is just one piece of a larger picture. Earlier in the day, the Raiders also made waves by selecting safety Dalton Johnson from Arizona with the No. 150 overall pick -- a selection acquired via trade with the New Orleans Saints. Johnson has already addressed the media, and his message to Raiders fans was simple: "I'm bringing 100%."
Let's break down both selections, what they mean for the Raiders' depth chart, and how this draft class is shaping up for a team that desperately needed a talent infusion in the secondary.
Hezekiah Masses: From Unranked to NFL Draft Pick
If you didn't have Hezekiah Masses on your draft radar, you're not alone. The California native entered college as a two-star prospect, the kind of player who gets overlooked by Power Five programs and has to prove himself at every turn. At Cal, he did exactly that.
Masses developed into a reliable starter over his collegiate career, showing steady improvement in coverage technique, ball skills, and overall awareness. While he may not have the flashy combine numbers or the national profile of some of his peers, his tape reveals a cornerback who understands leverage, plays with good instincts, and isn't afraid to tackle in the run game.
For the Raiders, Masses fits a specific need. Las Vegas entered the 2026 draft with a clear mandate to overhaul their secondary. The unit struggled with consistency last season, particularly in man coverage situations. Masses may not be a Day 1 starter, but he brings the kind of competitive mentality and special teams value that can earn him a roster spot and eventual playing time.
"He's a guy who really grew into himself at Cal," a draft analyst noted during the broadcast. "You see a player who just kept getting better each year. That trajectory matters for a sixth-round pick."
The pick also signals that the Raiders are embracing a philosophy of volume in the secondary. By drafting four defensive backs in one class, the team is openly admitting that last year's personnel wasn't good enough. They're loading up on young, cost-controlled talent and hoping that at least two or three of these players develop into reliable contributors.
Dalton Johnson: "I'm Bringing 100%"
Before Masses was selected, the Raiders used a fifth-round pick (No. 150 overall) on safety Dalton Johnson from Arizona. The pick itself was notable because Las Vegas didn't originally own it -- they acquired it in a trade with the New Orleans Saints, a move that suggests Johnson was specifically targeted by the Raiders' front office.
Johnson wasted no time making an impression after being drafted. In his first press conference as a Raider, Johnson delivered a message that resonated with the fanbase and the organization alike.
"Everybody wants to be great," Johnson said. "But the work is in the details. The work is in the film room, in the weight room, in the little things you do when nobody's watching. I'm bringing 100% every single day. That's a promise."
The quote isn't just coach-speak. Johnson has a reputation as a high-effort, high-football-IQ safety who plays with discipline in coverage and physicality near the line of scrimmage. At Arizona, he was known as a vocal leader on defense, a player who could communicate adjustments pre-snap and keep the back end organized.
For the Raiders, Johnson offers versatility. He can play deep safety, drop into the box, and even match up with tight ends in man coverage. That flexibility is critical in today's NFL, where offenses constantly force defenses into matchup dilemmas. Johnson gives the defensive coordinator, Rob Leonard, a chess piece who can handle multiple roles without tipping the defense's hand.
The trade with the Saints also tells you something about how the Raiders value Johnson. Generally speaking, teams don't move up or acquire additional picks unless they feel strongly about a player. Johnson wasn't just a "best player available" pick -- he was a specific target.
Building a New Secondary Identity
The big-picture takeaway from Day 3 of the 2026 draft is that the Raiders are fully committed to rebuilding their secondary from the ground up. With three cornerbacks and one safety selected so far, the team is sending a clear message: coverage wins games.
It's a philosophy that aligns with how the modern NFL is played. The league has become increasingly pass-happy, and teams that can't cover consistently get exposed -- especially in the playoffs. By stockpiling defensive backs, the Raiders are trying to avoid the coverage breakdowns that plagued them in recent seasons.
Of course, draft picks are just names on paper until they perform on the field. But the intent is clear. Las Vegas wants competition at every level of the secondary, and these rookie additions will push incumbents for playing time.
General manager John Spytek has a history of prioritizing the secondary in the draft, and this year's class is a continuation of that trend. The question now is whether Masses, Johnson, and the other drafted defensive backs can develop quickly enough to make an impact in 2026.
What's Next for the Raiders' Draft Class?
With the sixth-round selection of Masses, the Raiders have two more picks on Day 3 to address other needs. The team still has question marks along the offensive line, at wide receiver depth, and potentially at edge rusher. But given how many resources have been poured into the secondary this year, it wouldn't be surprising to see the Raiders pivot to offense with their remaining selections.
For now, though, the story of this draft for Las Vegas is about building a young, hungry secondary. Hezekiah Masses and Dalton Johnson represent two different paths to the NFL -- one an under-recruited prospect who earned his way, the other a disciplined leader with a high floor. Together, they embody the identity the Raiders are trying to create on defense.
As Johnson put it: "I'm bringing 100%."
If every member of this draft class follows that example, the Raiders' secondary might be a lot more formidable sooner than anyone expects.