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Treydan Stukes Wins Starting Safety Job, Bumping Isaiah Pola-Mao to Second Team
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- Treydan Stukes Wins Starting Safety Job, Bumping Isaiah Pola-Mao to Second Team
The Raiders may have a new starting safety when Week 1 rolls around. Rookie Treydan Stukes has claimed the free safety spot for himself.
Over the last two practices Stukes has taken the most snaps with the starting defense, pushing Isaiah Pola-Mao to the second team. Pola-Mao started all 17 games for the Raiders last season, but Pro Football Focus graded him as the second-worst safety in the NFL. It is a position Las Vegas clearly needs to upgrade.
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Stukes played safety at Arizona last season, picking off four passes. But the Raiders initially wanted to move him to slot corner. He took snaps behind veteran Taron Johnson earlier in training camp, as part of Klint Kubiak's versatility-first approach to building out the secondary . But with one preseason game left and under three weeks until the start of the season, Stukes is moving back to safety and could be starting against the Dolphins.
After all of the training camp buzz surrounding Hezekiah Masses and Jermod McCoy, the Raiders' second-round pick is the rookie defensive back impressing the coaching staff.
Where Raiders Second Rounders Have Failed
Las Vegas Raiders Derek Carr (4) points to Pittsburgh Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick during the first half at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, PA on December 24, 2022.Pittsburgh Steelers Vs Las Vegas Raiders Week 16
Part of the Raiders' recent struggles can be attributed to an inability to draft, and the second round has been a glaring issue.
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The last Raider to be selected in the second round and receive a second contract from the Raiders was Derek Carr, a 2014 draft pick. It has been over a decade since the Raiders landed a player in round two that they wanted to keep beyond his rookie contract.
The list of failed second rounders is littered with names like Obi Melifonwu and Trayvon Mullen. Instead of landing starters and foundational pieces, the Raiders have drafted guys that end up out of the league or bouncing around the NFL as backups.
Mayer, Powers-Johnson and Bech Still Have Time
There are four guys on the roster that the Raiders drafted in the second round. Joining Stukes are Michael Mayer, Jackson Powers-Johnson and Jack Bech. None of the three have proven to be anything special at the NFL level.
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Mayer has been a solid tight end, but the Raiders immediately drafted Brock Bowers after Mayer's rookie season. As he enters the final year of his rookie deal, Mayer could be playing elsewhere in 2027.
Powers-Johnson has not proven he is a starting offensive lineman in the NFL. He is on his third head coach in three seasons and has played three different positions. The Raiders have not given him any stability. But he is currently in a battle with Caleb Rogers for the starting right guard position.
Bech was supposed to help make a wide receiver room better, but he barely saw the field as a rookie. Now, head coach Klint Kubiak is not happy with the performances of the wideouts. Bech will likely operate as the third wide receiver, but he has a long way to go to prove he isn't another second-round bust.
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If the Raiders are going to build a contender, the second round will need to be a place to find starters, not busts. Mayer, Powers-Johnson and Bech having resurgent seasons would be terrific for the roster's future outlook.
Stukes becoming a starter to begin the year would bode well for his chances of being a foundational piece of the franchise.
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Aug 25, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
