The San Francisco 49ers have gotten some pretty good play from their secondary so far this season.
But one can't help but look how Las Vegas Raiders rookie Hezekiah Masses has played thus far and wish the Niners had been able to snag him.
Masses was a solid player at Cal in his collegiate career and seemed like a guy who could make sense for San Francisco going into the 2026 NFL Draft. When he was at Cal for his senior year, he had five interceptions in 13 games, so he's quickly gained a reputation as a ballhawk.
Ultimately, the 49ers did end up taking a cornerback from a West Coast school, but it was Ephesians Prysock out of the University of Washington in Round 4, while Masses went to Vegas in Round 5.
So far, Prysock hasn't appeared in a game for the Niners and has been inactive for all four weeks. They’ve been content to roll with Deommodore Lenoir, Renardo Green, Upton Stout, and Jack Jones.
But what if Masses was also in that mix?
Hezekiah Masses might've been a great 49ers story (if they drafted him)
The Raiders have been one of the biggest surprises this season as they are 3-1 on the year, and Masses has impressed. He had three interceptions through Las Vegas' first three games along with six passes defended, and it looked like he was headed for a special year.
Week 4 against the Kansas City Chiefs was a rude wake-up call for Masses, though, as he allowed four catches for 62 yards and two touchdowns during the game. Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs clearly targeted the rookie, going after him seven times.
Every rookie has rough games like that, so now, it'll be interesting to see how Masses looks going forward after getting burned. Does he return to his ballhawk ways or did the Chiefs give the rest of the NFL a blueprint on how to exploit him?
Still, the initial production would've been a welcomed sight, had the 49ers landed Masses instead.
The Niners will get to see Masses up close in Week 9 when the two teams square off. So by that point, they'll have a better idea whether they should’ve taken the guy who played his last year of college ball about an hour away from Santa Clara.
San Francisco has needed more defenders who can make plays and force turnovers, so if Masses ends up being a solid cornerback the 49ers could've had multiple times in the draft, they may come to regret passing on him.
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