Malik Benson adds explosiveness to the Raiders offense

EUGENE, OREGON - MARCH 17: Malik Benson #4 of the Oregon Ducks warms up during Oregon Ducks Pro Day at Moshofsky Center on March 17, 2026 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Soobum Im/Getty Images) | Getty Images Last year, the Las Vegas Raiders struggled to create explosive plays. According to Sharp Football Analysis, the Raiders ranked 29th in explosive play rate, which is awful for an NFL offense.

Enter young head coach Klint Kubiak, who led a Seattle Seahawks offense that was fourth in explosive play rate after the 2025 season. The big-play offense Kubiak deployed helped the Seattle Seahawks win the Super Bowl in 2025. With his offensive mentality built around chunk gains in the running and passing game, Kubiak and John Spytek went to work adding players who could help in that department.

In the running game, they drafted Mike Washington Jr out of Arkansas to match with Ashton Jeanty. In the passing game, Jalon Nailor was the free agent to help in that department, and they drafted Malik Benson out of Oregon in the sixth round of the 2026 NFL draft. Benson ran a 4.

37 40-yard dash at the NFL combine, displaying his ability to win over the top of a defense. He was one of the main deep threats for the Ducks last season, averaging 16. 7 and leading the team in receiving yards with 719.