At long last, the NFL draft is officially here. After months of scrolling through countless mock drafts and rumors of potential plans for each team, the wait is finally over. The New England Patriots enter the draft with several positional needs–such as edge rusher, tackle, and wide receiver–and own 11 picks to address them.Â
Despite a horrific 2024 draft class outside of Drake Maye, Executive Vice President of Player Personnel Eliot Wolf hit on several foundational players in 2025 with Will Campbell, TreVeyon Henderson, and Craig Woodson. Coming off their Super Bowl run and opting not to re-sign any of their free agents, Wolf faces a difficult challenge of replicating that success.
To put the franchise in a position to return to the promise land, Wolf must find the hidden gems in the later rounds. With eight Day 3 picks, the Patriots have ample opportunities to land multiple high-upside players who could potentially make an impact.Â
One name that stands out as an under-the-radar player is Malik Benson.Â
Oregon WR Malik Benson is Perfect Underrated Prospect for Patriots
In all likelihood, the Patriots will trade for A.J. Brown, which would ultimately lead them to trade Kayshon Boutte. Despite these rumors, the Patriots must bolster their depth at receiver. Outside of Romeo Doubs and Mack Hollins, New England faces uncertainty at the position.
While DeMario Douglas is a solid player, his production dropped last season, and he’s in the final year of his rookie contract. Meanwhile, Kyle Williams and Efton Chism III are largely unproven, as they both lack experience.Â
That’s why targeting Benson on Day 3 should be a priority for the Patriots. Benson, 23, had a breakout season in his lone year with the Oregon Ducks, logging 43 receptions for 719 yards and six touchdowns.Â
He was the Ducks’ most dynamic playmaker down the stretch, posting consecutive 100-yard games against the University of Washington and James Madison. What makes Benson an intriguing target is his speed.Â
We got to see just how fast he is at the combine, where he posted a 4.37-second 40-yard dash. Benson is by far one of the more explosive receivers in this year’s class, averaging 16.7 yards per reception, and would be an ideal fit in New England’s offense.Â
With offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels’ scheme prioritizing pounding the football and pairing it with play-action, Benson would be a perfect target for Drake Maye. The Patriots’ offense could use more speed, as Benson would help open up the field for more deep shots.Â
According to NFL.com’s draft analyst Lance Zierlein, Benson is projected to be selected in either the fifth or sixth round. Given that New England has an abundance of late-round picks, they have nothing to lose by selecting him.
Looking at their current depth chart, Benson should beat out Jeremiah Webb and John Jiles, while competing with Williams and Chism for backup reps. While it’s unlikely he’ll get much playing time this upcoming season, Benson could play a valuable role on the special teams.Â
Although Marcus Jones is the starting punt returner until further notice, Benson could be the insurance piece at the position. Last year, Benson returned nine punts for 161 yards and a touchdown.Â
While the Patriots have several needs to address, the franchise must strike a balance between adding talented players and addressing other priorities. There are plenty of impactful players available on Day 3, and Benson has displayed the potential to be one of them.Â
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