This Oregon Ducks wide receiver has landed with a prominent NFL franchise.
The Oregon Ducks did not have a ton of elite talent in the NFL Draft this year, as many of their top players decided to return to school for 2026.
However, Oregon did have some really intriguing talents in this class, even beyond tight end Kenyon Sadiq and safety Dillon Thieneman.
One of them was wide receiver Malik Benson, who was selected by the Las Vegas Raiders with the 195th overall pick of the draft on Saturday afternoon.
Benson spent just one year with the Ducks in 2025, hauling in 43 receptions for 719 yards and six touchdowns while averaging a hefty 16.7 yards per catch.
The six-foot tall, 189-pound speedster began his collegiate career at Hutchinson Community College and spent two years there before transferring to Alabama in 2023. He then transferred to Florida State and spent one season there before finally arriving at Oregon this past year.
Malik Benson. Credit: Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images.Benson did not really break out until he got to Eugene, as he proceeded to lead the Ducks in receiving yards during his lone campaign with the squad.
The Lansing, Ks. native was viewed by some as a potential fourth-round talent in this draft, but he slipped all the way to Round 6, making him quite a potential steal for a Raiders team that has been stocking up on talent this offseason.
Lance Zierlein of NFL.com likened Benson to former Houston Texans receiver Will Fuller, a pretty solid comparison.
"He combines electric, track-caliber speed with above-average ball skills to create a real deep threat on every snap," Zierlein wrote. "He needs to diversify his releases and his route-running won’t impress, but his speed forces open easy hitches/slants underneath. He has a plus catch radius and rare toughness for a speed demon. He’s unflinching working into the middle."
Given how much depth Las Vegas lacked at receiver heading into the draft, it's entirely possible that Benson could receive some legitimate playing time with the Raiders next season.
It remains to be seen if he can carve out a niche with the Silver and Black long term, but the Oregon product definitely has the talent to find a role in the NFL.
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