Notes and quotes from Day 1 of Raiders' 2026 minicamp
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Key Points:
- The Raiders are emphasizing youth and athleticism in their secondary, featuring significant reps for rookie defensive backs Hezekiah Masses, Treydan Stukes, and Dalton Johnson during OTAs.
- Fifth-round pick Hezekiah Masses, a First-Team All-ACC honoree in 2025, has been actively tested on the outside and is showing promise with his 13 pass deflections tied for second nationally.
- Second-year cornerback Darien Porter, a former receiver who started 10 games last season, is also receiving increased reps to build on his rookie campaign.
- Rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza is gradually integrating into the offense, showing notable improvement in footwork and mechanics, particularly playing under center, which was limited in college.
- Raiders assistant head coach Mike McCoy and Mendoza both expressed confidence in his development, highlighting the coaching staff’s system installation and Mendoza’s daily growth since OTAs.