ESPN NFL Reporter Ryan McFadden named wide receiver Malik Benson as the Las Vegas’ Raiders’ “biggest surprise” player in the early offseason.
McFadden said Benson reportedly had a strong connection with No. 1 overall draft pick Fernando Mendoza (Indiana), the Heisman Trophy winner and national championship quarterback, during Organized Team Activities (OTAs) and minicamp and was a “go-to target” during team drills.
“Given how little is settled on the Vegas depth chart at wideout, we should at least be open to the odds that Benson could snag a major role with a strong training camp,” McFadden said. “He enters the deep sleeper conversation heading into training camp.”
Benson (listed at 6-foot-1, 195 pounds by the Las Vegas Raiders) is a fifth-year prospect who made stops at Hutchinson Community College, Alabama and Florida State before joining Oregon for the 2025 season.
During his time with Alabama and FSU, Benson caught 38 passes for 473 yards and two touchdowns. He caught 43 passes for 719 yards with 6 touchdowns in one season with the Oregon Ducks.
A former football and track star at Lansing (Kan.) High School, Benson is a home run threat who posted a 4.37 40-yard dash at the combine and saw five of his six scores last season come from 40-plus yards out.
Benson also returned 9 punts for 161 yards and 1 touchdown last season
In 23 games in two seasons at HutchCC, Benson caught 102 passes for 2,206 yards with 21 touchdowns and was named an All-American.
