Commanders showing strong interest in late-round gem who could fix weakest remaining position
The Commanders may have an answer to their biggest roster problem after a one-on-one meeting with a late-round prospect who could be a steal in the draft.
The Washington Commanders are just a month away from the 2026 NFL Draft, where they have to work to complete their roster overhaul this offseason.
They fixed a lot of roster weaknesses during the free agency period, but they weren’t able to add a quality WR just yet. The Commanders will have plenty to select from in the NFL Draft, including with the No. 7 overall pick.
If the Commanders decide to go another route, they can find a late-round gem, including one prospect they had a one-on-one meeting with at his pro day.
Commanders held a one-on-one meeting with Oregon WR Malik Benson
The Commanders have been busy traveling the country to visit the top college pro days before the NFL Draft, and hosting prospects in Ashburn for top-30 visits. One of the latest trips they took was to Eugene, Oregon, where they had a meeting with underrated WR Malik Benson, according to NFL Draft analyst Tony Pauline.
A lot of teams have shown interest in Benson, including the Commanders, and he could be a day three option in the NFL Draft for Washington. They also met with him at the NFL Scouting Combine and clearly wanted to get to know him better in a one-on-one meeting.
Malik Benson could be an underrated prospect late in the NFL Draft
Benson was very productive in a high-powered Oregon offense, and he finished with 43 catches for 719 yards and six touchdowns to go with it. He finished with a 16.7 yards per catch average and just one drop. Benson is only 5-11, 189 pounds, but he still finished with a contested catch rate of 60% while primarily lined up as an outside WR.
The speedster showed how dangerous he was on the field, and he carried it over to the draft process, where he ran a 4.37 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine. Benson can stretch the field from the slot and out wide, but the Commanders would likely use him in the slot.
The Commanders only have six picks in the NFL Draft to work with, and three of them are in the sixth and seventh rounds. This is the perfect landing spot for Benson, and he could be a late-round gem to take a swing at.