For a Day 3 pick in the NFL Draft, the preseason is incredibly important, as a role on the team or even a spot on the roster is far from guaranteed. The investment in a Day 3 pick is much smaller, and if a player doesn't perform instantly, their time could be up before it even gets started. This Spring, the Las Vegas Raiders took a swing on Oregon wide receiver Malik Benson with the hope that he could eventually develop into a trusted weapon for Fernando Mendoza.
From Rookie Minicamp on, it's looked like the Las Vegas Raiders got one of the biggest steals of the entire draft as Malik Benson has impressed each step of the way. Benson continues to get reps with the 1st team offense in camp, and his teammates are even taking notice of his rapid development.
Veteran cornerback praises Malik Benson's development in Las Vegas
The biggest sign of respect a professional athlete can receive is when his peers notice the hard work they're putting in, and the growth they're showing. As Malik Benson battles the Raiders cornerbacks everyday, they're starting to notice the areas he's making major strides in.
On Sunday, ESPN's Ryan McFadden shared the high praise that Raiders' cornerback Eric Stokes had for Malik Benson.
"You can just see he's being important to the team. Even from the start of training camp with him, just him being a vertical threat. But now he's able to do intermediate routes. He's able to break it down... He's gonna be one of the guys we're gonna lean on in the future."Eric Stokes
Earning praise from Eric Stokes speaks volumes given the way he's approached his career and the way he's continued to develop his skill set. After being a 1st round pick by the Green Bay Packers, Eric Stokes dealt with injuries and had his 5th year option declined by the team. Stokes signed with Las Vegas on a 1-year deal worth $4 million and played his way into a 3-year deal worth $30 million.
Every bit of news out of Las Vegas has been that Malik Benson is doing all the little things right, and if he continues to do so, he's going to quickly find a role. As a Day 3 pick, all you can do is show up and compete each day, and Malik Benson has exceeded expectations, and it should only pay off when the games roll around.
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