Several Kansas City Chiefs cornerbacks hit free agency after the 2025 season, including Jaylen Watson. This year’s third round pick, Nohl Williams, is waiting in the wings, but he hasn’t even played 200 defensive snaps as a rookie. The Chiefs need to explore adding cornerback help through the 2026 NFL draft.
California Golden Bears cornerback Hezekiah Masses flew under the radar this season. He offers good height and arm length for a corner but is extremely lean. Masses is a suffocating defender in man coverage who is comfortable mirroring routes out of press coverage or reading the quarterback’s eyes to jump throwing lanes in zone.
Masses’ punches in press coverage lack pop, but he’s a physical cornerback who drives outside releases toward the sideline and hounds receivers throughout routes. His hips show some stiffness but don’t limit his ability to stick on the receiver’s hip. Masses quickly decelerates to stay attached to receivers through intermediate routes like digs, comebacks and curls.
Masses anticipates route breaks in man coverage to run routes for receivers and leave no throwing windows for quarterbacks. He keeps himself in play at the catch point and uses his arm length to disrupt receptions. Masses isn’t the fastest cornerback in the class but rarely appears stressed by fade or post routes.
In zone coverage, Masses uses leverage to sit in throwing lanes and deter throws. He reads the quarterback’s eyes to shade his coverage toward threats and get an early jump on potential interceptions. His football IQ is evident in his approach to navigating route combinations. Masses’ quick trigger and closing burst make him a threat to cause havoc at the catch point.
Masses sets the edge against the run when he needs to, but his lack of mass and play strength make it difficult for him to stack and shed blocks. He takes inconsistent angles to the football and doesn’t appear eager to contribute against the run unless it’s essential.
Masses projects as an early fourth round pick who could rise into the third round if he performs well on the All-Star circuit and at the NFL Scouting Combine.
This article originally appeared on Chiefs Wire: 2026 NFL draft scouting report: Cal Golden Bears CB Hezekiah Masses
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