Malik Benson could overtake Bech as WR3?

The depth chart placement is a tad curious because it suggests Benson ran ahead of either WR Tre Tucker or WR Jack Bech. Benson has been rotating in with the first-team offense for more than a week, so this isn’t groundbreaking news, but one wonders if he can use the opportunity to make a compelling case for a starting role in three-wide receiver sets.

The Raiders are reportedly rotating five different wide receivers through team drills, including Tre Tucker, Jack Bech, Jalen Nailor and Dont’e Thornton. Tucker is the most proven player of the bunch and should be expected to secure a starting role. Things are fluid beyond that. McFadden named Benson, a sixth-round rookie, his “biggest surprise” of spring practices. He reportedly fostered a strong connection with QB Fernando Mendoza. Given his draft capital, Benson is likely a long shot to earn a starting role, but he also possesses intriguing upside as a field stretcher. Don’t bank on a breakout, but keeping an eye on him this summer is worthwhile.

Benson reportedly had a strong connection with Fernando Mendoza during 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. He enters the deep sleeper conversation heading into training camp.

Benson (6’0”/189) 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 totaled 38 receptions for 473 yards and two touchdowns, but posted a 43-719-6 line in his lone season with the Ducks. Playing primarily on the outside, Benson did most of his damage on the season against Washington and James Madison, with 221 of his yards and three of his touchdowns coming in those two games. A former high school track star, 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. He hauled in 62.5 percent of his contested targets over the final two seasons and had just one drop on his resumé last season. His slender build could cause him problems against press coverage at the next level, but Benson’s explosive playmaking ability will draw the attention of coaches in camp. In addition to his ability to break off big gains through the air, Benson also returned nine punts for 161 yards and a touchdown last season and could have a chance to make an early impact as a returner.