Although the Las Vegas Raiders waited a while to select a wide receiver during the 2026 NFL Draft, sixth-rounder Malik Benson appears to have been worth the wait. He has made a name for himself in training camp, raising expectations among Raiders fans.
Benson was a productive receiver his last year at Oregon, as he led the team in receiving yards with 717. He had a few big games, with one of his best coming against James Madison. Big moments are where Benson thrives, and that is already showing itself at the next level.
During the first preseason game, Benson was a big part of the game plan when he was out there with the second team. He had four targets with two catches and 26 yards in his first NFL action. He did his best work against off coverage, with his biggest play coming on a frozen rope from Mendoza.
Raiders' Malik Benson still has to prove he can play outside the numbers
The first preseason game showed that Benson’s best path to becoming a star in the NFL is from the slot. On the throw from Mendoza, fans saw why he fits there. His ability to sit between the zone and make himself available to the quarterback helped him make a near-explosive reception in the NFL.
Benson needs to improve, however, when playing outside the numbers.
On the two incomplete passes thrown his way, fans saw a player who can have issues against press coverage. The first example was a back-shoulder throw from Mendoza that Benson couldn’t bring in, even if a lot of folks thought he got interfered with.
But he had already lost coming off the line, and Mendoza had to try to fit in a back-shoulder pass. And the young quarterback did execute a great throw, but Benson couldn't control it through traffic, and it fell incomplete.
The biggest example, however, was when Mendoza got sacked in the second quarter. Benson was lined up one-on-one on the outside with an opportunity for a touchdown in the red zone. The play is designed for him to beat man coverage and make an easy throw for Mendoza.
After the snap, he doesn’t sell the in-route as he should, and the cornerback doesn't bite on it. This leaves Mendoza with no one to throw to. With nobody else open, Mendoza takes a sack, which could have really hurt the team in the red zone.
Benson might not be ready to be an all-around receiver for the Raiders just yet. However, his potential as a slot receiver and a deep threat from that position is evident. If he can continue to grow, he might make a bigger impact as the season progresses.
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