Can Malik Benson solve the Raiders’ return game woes?

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?