Oregon's Malik Benson Could Fill A Void In Green Bay's WR Room

The Green Bay Packers reportedly met with Oregon wide receiver Malik Benson during the Shrine Bowl. After Dontayvion Wicks and Romeo Doubs left in free agency, there’s a need to add depth to the receiver room. Benson may not be a premier target, but the Packers have expressed interest in him as they look to round out the group.

Benson brings an interesting profile to the table. He measured in at 6-foot and 189 pounds with 31⅞” arms at the NFL Combine. As a junior college player in 2025, he put together a dominant 43-catch, 719-yard, six-touchdown season. He also posted a 2.3% drop rate and averaged 2.58 yards per route run. Benson also adds vertical value, hauling in 10 of his 15 targets thrown 20 or more yards downfield.

Five of his six touchdown receptions in 2025 came on explosive plays of 40-plus yards. He accelerates through press coverage with ease when working vertically and consistently shows strong ball skills downfield, adjusting in the air and finishing plays. Benson also uses his length effectively, reaching well beyond his frame to secure off-target throws.

After the catch, he can outrun pursuit angles from safeties, especially on intermediate routes. He’s also shown a willingness to compete in contested situations, maintaining focus and control through contact. In traffic, he can shield defenders and secure the ball using his frame when needed. That confidence shows up in how he talks about his route running, particularly on in-breaking concepts.

“I love those post routes. My favorite route is probably a dig, though,” Benson told Sports Illustrated. “A receiver like me, I force defensive backs to open up their hips and run. There’s multiple ways I can run that dig route. Once I get the defender to turn his hips, I’m elite in and out of my breaks.

“Whether I break it inside or break it down at the top of the route, I’m comfortable with doing whatever I have to do to create that separation,” he added. “ I get open on those dig routes. You can watch that play I made against Washington. It was a dig route, and I turned it into an explosive after the catch.”

That confidence is also evident on tape, but there are still areas of Benson’s game that he must refine. His releases can lack nuance, especially when it comes to using his hands and varying his tempo to keep corners off balance. At times, he gives too much away before the break, making it easier for defensive backs to anticipate what’s coming.

Physicality is another factor. Stronger corners can disrupt Benson’s timing and crowd him at the top of routes, and on vertical throws near the sideline, he doesn’t always do the best job of working back to the ball or using the boundary to his advantage. There are also details within the route tree that need tightening — comebacks, in particular, can look rounded instead of sharp and sudden.

With the ball in his hands on shorter throws, the decisiveness isn’t always there. Rather than getting upfield immediately, he can hesitate, which takes away opportunities to turn routine catches into bigger gains.

Benson is ranked 221st on the consensus board, putting him in the Day 3 range. He’s a developmental prospect, but he has tools Green Bay can work with. With the right coaching and refinement, he has a path to becoming a legitimate starter at the next level. Just as importantly, his mindset and confidence suggest he has the approach needed to maximize that potential.

“They’re going to get an energetic guy who is ready to come in and make plays,” the former Duck said regarding the kind of impact he believes he can make at the next level. “I’m going to do whatever I have to do to help the team win. I can play wide receiver, I can play on special teams.”

“You’re getting an electric punt returner, too,” he added. “ I’m ready to work. I’m going to put my best foot forward. That’s the only thing I know how to do.”

As things stand, Matthew Golden and Savion Williams are the only wide receivers Green Bay has under contract for 2027 and beyond. While I expect the Packers and Christian Watson to reach a new deal sooner rather than later, that doesn’t change the larger picture. Looking long term, this is still a room that needs more bodies and continued investment, and Benson is a player who could contribute on multiple phases.