Having a young secondary is just as exciting as it is nerve-wracking. Las Vegas Raiders fans know what their new unit is capable of, but with several unproven players set to take the field in Week 1, the fanbase has some anxiety. Luckily, the Miami Dolphins' pass-catchers shouldn't be much of a threat.
Eric Stokes and Jeremy Chinn are known commodities as veterans in this league, and Raider Nation watched both of them have above-average campaigns in 2025, despite a rough supporting cast. A trust has been created with these two, and Taron Johnson has serious skins on the wall as well.
But some questions still remain about the young crop of players.
Second-year pro Darien Porter has half a season of starting under his belt, and he didn't exactly make the best impression during the preseason. Zeke Masses and Jermod McCoy are Day 3 rookies who may factor in, and Treydan Stukes is the starting free safety after being taken in Round 2 in April.
That is a lot of reliance on Las Vegas' part on players who will be making their NFL debuts on Sunday. But if there was ever an opponent's position group to brush off, it would be the Dolphins and their crew of wide receivers and tight ends. The Raiders' young DBs should start on the right foot.
Raiders will ask a lot of their young DBs against Dolphins in Week 1
The learning curve of the NFL is always steep, but especially for non-blue-chip prospects. Heck, even Fernando Mendoza isn't starting in Week 1. But Stukes is, and he'll be tasked with patrolling the back half for Las Vegas as the center fielder. His versatility will also give him several other hats to wear.
Not only will Stukes line up deep, but he'll be asked to play in the box and help against the run, as well as line up in the slot to cover twitchy receivers, big tight ends and pass-catchers out of the backfield. That is a lot to put on the plate of a young player, but Stukes appears to be ready for it.
"Speed, closing speed - his ability to close is glaring. His ability to cover, good tackler, good blitzer. He's a great top-down player," Rob Leonard said of Stukes' strengths earlier this week.
Porter developed and learned on the job last season, but he seemed to take a step back in August. His issues were most glaring in the second preseason game when he played against the Houston Texans' 1s, as he missed a tackle, giving up a score, and he got out-physicaled for a big completion.
If the version of Porter that showed up near the end of 2025 comes to play on Sunday, the Raiders have no real reason to worry. But if Porter doesn't correct his summer mistakes and continues to struggle, then Las Vegas will be forced to lean even more on Masses, a fifth-round rookie.
Masses could very well be the answer at cornerback, as he quickly flew up the depth chart, and he appeared to get better and correct his mistakes in every exhibition game. But major reps in Week 1 still feel like a lot to throw at Masses, even if he may very well be ready for it. It's a risk, at least.
McCoy is in a much different boat, as he has legitimate starting-level talent but needs to get more comfortable after his injury and physically prove to himself and the team that he can do the job. After an unbelievably rough preseason opener, McCoy has taken steps in the right direction.
Is he there yet? No. But there's a world where McCoy has to go in the ballgame on Sunday if injuries or poor play plague the Raiders and new addition Darrell Luter Jr. doesn't quite know the playbook yet. Based on what he showed this summer, McCoy may need time before being a positive contributor.
Luckily for this group, being imperfect against this Dolphins pass-catching group shouldn't be devastating. It could actually give them a great chance to learn from mistakes without having to face the scrutiny that might otherwise surface if they were playing a unit more equipped to punish them.
Dolphins' pass-catching group is perfect Week 1 foe for Raiders' young secondary
Miami is a young team with a lot of question marks, and one of the biggest is at wide receiver. Of their three projected starters, two are mid-round rookies, and the other is an unproven third-year player. The wave of rotational guys is comprised of another rookie and a veteran of minimal impact.
At tight end, the Dolphins will trot out Greg Dulcich, Will Kacmarek, Seydou Troure and Justin Joly. That is, if the middle two even play. Clearly, this group is just as young and unproven as pieces of the Raiders' secondary are, so Las Vegas' youthful contingent should lay a strong foundation on Sunday.
Malik Washington is the proverbial No. 1 wideout for Miami, and he has 540 receiving yards and three touchdowns under his belt through two seasons. Yes, he was stuck behind Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, but that's not even Jalen Nailor-level production. It's hard to see him dominating.
The trio of rookies is headlined by third-rounder Chris Bell, who may have been a Day 1 selection if not for a big injury. And while he looked okay in the lone preseason contest he played, catching two passes for 22 yards, and Bell isn't supposed to be on a pitch count, it's far-fetched that he'll stand out.
Caleb Douglas is the other rookie receiver in line for a starting role as a third-rounder out of Texas Tech. Many thought that this pick was a reach, but the tone changed after Douglas had a strong camp. After playing non-Dolphins DBs, though, Douglas came down to earth in preseason.
Kevin Coleman Jr. is the third and final rookie who will get snaps for Miami, and he almost had as many fumbles (1) as he did catches (2) in the exhibition slate. The fifth-round pick is a quick and toolsy slot player, but far from a difference-maker.
Jalen Tolbert is the elder statesman in the room after coming down from the Dallas Cowboys, but he has already ceded a starting job to the youngsters. That's because his 600-yard season in 2024 appears to be a completely anamoly in an otherwise unproductive career.
It may not even be worth diving too deep into the tight end room, but the fact that Dulcich, who has 799 yards and three touchdowns in four NFL seasons split between three franchises, is the starter says it all. Clearly, this pass-catching group has a lot to prove.
But so does the Raiders' secondary. Instead of having to do that against the Justin Jeffersons or Ja'Marr Chases of the world, though, Las Vegas' young crew gets to wet their feet against the likes of Washington, Tolbert, Dulcich and a trio of rookies.
If there were ever an advantageous matchup for a set of first-year and unproven defensive backs, this is it.
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