This Oregon Ducks standout is suddenly garnering significant NFL Draft buzz.
The Oregon Ducks have three players expected to fly off the board in the first two days of the NFL Draft next month: tight end Kenyon Sadiq, safety Dillon Thieneman and guard Emmanuel Pregnon.
But there is another Oregon player who is drawing sudden buzz before the draft: wide receiver Malik Benson.
Benson has always been viewed as a potential sleeper, but the general consensus has been that he will be a late Day 3 pick who might make an NFL roster.
That sentiment appears to have changed.
While Benson is still considered a Day 3 talent, his stock has unquestionably risen thanks to a strong showing at the Scouting Combine in which he ran a 4.37 in the 40-yard dash.
Benson met with the Washington Commanders, Arizona Cardinals and Carolina Panthers at his Pro Day, and on Thursday, the Buffalo Bills even hosted him for a top-30 visit.
Clearly, Benson has caught teams' attention, even if he is still a very raw prospect with a mostly uncertain future.
It's hard to argue with Benson's production, though.
Malik Benson. Credit: Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images.The 23-year-old hauled in 43 receptions for 719 yards and six touchdowns during his final season at Oregon, averaging a robust 16.7 yards per catch.
Benson is a track star, for certain. In fact, five of his six scores in 2025 went for 40-plus yards, indicating his potential as a downfield weapon.
NFL squads in need of a deep threat may be very intrigued by Benson in the middle rounds, and it's not out of the realm of possibility that the six-foot tall pass-catcher could be a fourth-round pick next month.
The well-traveled receiver actually began his collegiate career at Hutchinson Community College in 2021, spending two years there before transferring to Alabama. Benson spent one season with the Crimson Tide and then transferred to Florida State.
Much like his brief stint in Tuscaloosa, Benson stayed with the Seminoles for one year before finally arriving in Eugene this past season, where he enjoyed a breakout campaign.
This is a pretty deep wide receiver draft class, so Benson will have to contend with many other impressive talents at the position. But it's looking more and more like the Lansing, Ks. native will absolutely get selected at some point this spring.
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