Las Vegas Raiders had a pre-draft visit with a lethal downfield threat who could be found as a hidden gem on Day 3
The Las Vegas Raiders need another wide receiver in their WR room, and Malik Benson would be a good swing to take in Rounds 4-6, if he’s available.
The Las Vegas Raiders are in an unusual position regarding their wide receiver group. They drafted two wide receivers last year, one in the second round and one in the fourth round.
But those guys didn’t do much last season. So, we should see them take one this year. We could see them take one on Day 3, specifically in Rounds 4-6. This week, the Raiders met with a receiver who could be found early on Day 3 in former Alabama, Florida State, and Oregon WR Malik Benson. He is one of the few WRs the Raiders have met with during this process who isn’t expected to be drafted in the second or third rounds.
Pre-draft visits don’t tell you who a team is going to draft. It does say who they are interested in, though. Well, that, or maybe a team will meet with a player to get some intel on a teammate. However, the Raiders’ list of pre-draft visits shows one position appearing more than others.
The Raiders have met with Georgia State WR Ted Hurst, ECU WR Anthony Smith, and Texas A&M WR KC Concepcion, Alabama WR Germie Bernard, Washington WR Denzel Boston, Louisville WR Chris Bell, Texas Tech WR Caleb Douglas, Georgia WR Zachariah Branch, and Indiana WR Omar Cooper Jr. It’s clear they want a WR in this draft, but now the question is who they will take, or when will they take one. If they take Benson, they could get a lethal downfield threat.
What would the Raiders be getting in Oregon WR Malik Benson if they drafted him?
One area in the passing game where the Raiders have struggled over recent years is the deep ball. In 2025, for instance, the Raiders had the second-worst average throw depth at 6.6 yards. This was just above the Pittsburgh Steelers, according to Sports Info Solutions.
They need guys who can separate deep. Of course, that’s not the only issue, as they need guys who can block, too. But they really need serious threats, and Benson is one of them. I haven’t done a deep film dive on him yet, so here is what Dane Brugler of The Athletic had to say about Benson:
“A deep-ball weapon, Benson is a fleet-of-foot athlete who can really fly once he opens up on downfield patterns (caught 11 of 17 targets of 20-plus yards in 2025). He can loosen coverage with the threat of his speed, but lacks the rhythm and efficiency to easily separate at the top of routes.
“He extends well to pull the ball in, although his lack of desired size and strength will be tough to mask in NFL traffic. Overall, Benson is undeveloped in the quick game and intermediate area, but his gliding speed and tracking skills will be valued by teams looking for a pure vertical receiver on the perimeter. His usefulness will also show on punt returns.”
Developing a player like Benson could be good for the Raiders. That way, they are also not taking away from the reps the guys they drafted last season are getting.
