The NFL is just over a week away from the start of Free Agency, but now that the Combine is over, let's look at a player who might have convinced the Baltimore Ravens front office to draft him instead of paying a veteran.
Florida State University running back Trey Benson was one of the biggest winners of the NFL Combine after he posted some numbers reminiscent of New York Jets star running back Breece Hall.
Both Hall and Benson measured almost identically in size. Hall stood 5-11 and weighed 217 pounds, Benson was 6-0 216 pounds, and both had arms over 31 inches long with hands over 9 inches.
As far as on the field, after only receiving six touches during his first two years at Oregon, Benson had two impressive seasons at FSU. With the Seminoles, Benson averaged 6.1 yards per carry and ran for 1,896 yards and 23 touchdowns over his two seasons while also recording 33 receptions for 371 yards and one touchdown.
Despite Benson's impressive statistics per touch, some questioned how well he'd fare physically compared to some rushers who received bigger workloads during their college careers out the gate.
At the NFL Combine, under the bright lights of Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Benson showed scouts what his body was capable of and silenced his detractors. Benson ran a 4.39-second 40-yard dash (third in his class), which included the second-fastest 10-yard split of any rusher to have participated at 1.52 seconds.
For comparison, New York's sensational rusher, Hall, also ran his 40-yard dash in 4.39 seconds, but his 10-yard split was slightly slower, reflecting that Benson had a quicker burst from the line.
Immediately upon entering the league, Hall asserted himself as one of the top running backs in the NFL, displaying elite athleticism that allowed him to break away from defenders as a rookie for 5,8 yards per carry before a knee injury robbed him of winning Offensive Rookie of the Year and potentially even more accolades.
Imagine if Baltimore had its own version of Hall in Benson to take the Ravens' run game to an even higher level without risking MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson's health. Benson has the potential to make Baltimore's offense lethal in 2024 and would likely cost a second-round pick rather than significant cap space to do so.
With Free Agency continuing to creep closer this offseason, Ravens fans should consider Benson as a potential draft option should the team prove unwilling to sign a flashier name on the market.
After only picking up 81 yards in the AFC Championship game, a rookie rusher could provide the juice that Baltimore needs in its run game for offensive coordinator Todd Monken to trust in pivotal moments.
Keep an eye on the Ravens running back room and free agent signings as we approach the NFL Draft next month.
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