Once Klint Kubiak became the Las Vegas Raiders head coach and assembled his staff, general manager John Spytek went to work assembling a roster to put the new lead man in the best possible position to succeed.
Taking over a football team that finished 3-14 the prior year under a veteran head coach that was one-and-done, rebuild is an apt term for Kubiak even if the organization refuses to term it as such. Retooling or reloading is the more preferred term, but there’s no hiding the amount of work required
by Spytek and Kubiak to right the ship.
One of the refreshing items about this go-around for the Raiders, however, is the attention all three phases of the team — offense, defense, and special teams — received this offseason. From free agency and the recent 2026 NFL Draft, Spytek and Co. attacked the needs in each area.
Kubiak got new toys, as did chosen defense coordinator Rob Leonard and special teams boss Joe DeCamillis.
Let’s dive into a late-round pick in the 2026 draft: Malik Benson. Taken in the sixth round (195th overall), the Oregon wide receiver has the fleet feet (4.37-second 40-yard dash time at the NFL Combine) to fit Kubiak’s offense as a speedy deep threat. But where his initial impact lies — as does Benson’s best route to secure a 53-man roster spot — is providing a jolt to DeCamillis’ special teams unit.
In particular, the 6-foot, 189-pound Kansas native should be given every opportunity to solve the Raiders’ return game conundrum.
By The Numbers
Malik Benson, Wide Receiver, Oregon
- 2025: 15 games, 43 receptions, 719 yards, 6 touchdowns; 1 rush, -4 yards, 0 touchdowns; 9 punt returns, 161 yards, 1 touchdown
- Career: (2023-25), 81 games, 81 receptions, 1,192 yards, 8 touchdowns; 3 rushes, -2 yards, 0 touchdowns; 10 punt returns, 164 yards, 1 touchdown
DeCamillis, a longtime special teams coordinator making the jump back into the NFL after spending the past two seasons with the South Carolina Gamecocks, has a history of building top 10 return units and a revitalization of Las Vegas’ unit is a must-do. Benson has the experience and talent to ignite a strong competition for punt return duties, and perhaps the kick return gig, too.
First, let’s look at returning punts.
Benson’s 2025 campaign with the Oregon Ducks showcased his prime ability to produce explosive plays on special teams as he fielded nine punts for 161 yards (nearly an average of 18 yards per return) and a touchdown. Granted, a large chunk of that yardage was from that lone end zone visit: An 85-yard scorcher against USC in November (clip above).
The Raiders have long needed a decisive return man that can quickly reach top speed and glide past eager gunners to set the offense up with prime real-estate with field-flipping yards gained. Las Vegas’ primary return specialist — veteran wide receiver Alex Bachman — field 22 punts for 124 yards (5.6 yards average per return) and is no longer on the team. Speedy wide receiver Tre Tucker fielded seven punts for 49 yards (7.0 yards per return) in his minimal opportunities.
Thus, the job is there for the taking. And Benson would be wise to capitalize on the opportunity this offseason. The Silver & Black haven’t produced a house call on a punt return since Dwayne Harris’ 99-yard touchdown against the Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football back on Dec. 24, 2018.
Benson is also a willing special teamer in terms of coverage units, too. By making an impression as a viable return man and speedy gunner on coverage units, Benson’s roster potential is exponentially increased.
Offensively, the late-round selection of Benson strikes as an opportune move by Kubiak and Spytek to bring additional speed to the wide receiver room.
Like the veteran Tucker in front of him, Benson was a decorated high school sprinter who translated track speed on the football field. Both clocked in similar 40 times (Tucker had a 4.40 time at the combine and then a 4.37 time at Cincinnati’s Pro Day) and are mentally and physically tough to work in traffic or the middle of the field.
The early notion is Benson being deployed in a Rashid Shaheed-role where pure speed is exploited to stress defenses and create explosive chunk plays. That’s how Kubiak used Shaheed — a fleet-footed wideout — with the Seattle Seahawks this past season (15 catches for 188 yards in nine regular season games; three catches for 78 yards in the playoffs). Benson and Shaheed are similarly built with the 27-year-old veteran standing 6-feet, 180 pounds (Shaheed was also an undrafted free agent find out of Weber State.
Like Shaheed, Benson’s penchant to create explosive plays at Oregon made him both a vertical threat and turning short (slants) and intermediate routes (overs) into long scores. And if that translates to the pro level with the Raiders, Kubiak is the proper play caller to make it work in Las Vegas.
Interestingly enough when comparing what Kubiak had in Seattle — and New Orleans — (Shaheed) with what he has in Las Vegas (Benson), the veteran was a weapon on offense and special teams. Once traded to the Seahawks, Shaheed racked up 418 kick return yards and a touchdown on 14 attempts and 210 yards and another end zone visit on 13 punt returns in the regular season. He added 167 more yards and another touchdown on four kick returns in the playoffs.
Perhaps, that can be a similar path/plan for Benson with Kubiak’s Raiders?
