Trey Benson | Florida State 6’0”, 216 lbs 7/23/02 (21)
Trey Benson was drafted with the 66th overall by the Arizona Cardinals, becoming the second running back selected in the 2024 NFL Draft.
COLLEGE PRODUCTION
After missing the 2020 and 2021 football seasons due to a knee injury, Trey Benson burst onto the scene during his 2022 campaign, surprising many with his 154 carries for 990 yards and 9 touchdowns. He managed to put up similar numbers this past season as well, totaling 156 carries for 906 yards and 14 touchdowns, which failed to live up to the lofty expectations he set for himself in the prior year. He improved his receiving production from 2022 to 2023 though, catching 20 balls for 227 yards and a touchdown after managing only a 13-144-0 line in his first season as a starter.
During the 2022 season, Benson finished top 3 in the nation in multiple statistical categories, including yard after contact per attempt, forced missed tackles, and breakaway percentage. He was less impressive across these categories in 2023, but still showed off his exemplary contact balance and physical run style. The drop-off was likely due to the loss of multiple offensive linemen from the prior year and an injury to starting quarterback, Jordan Travis, mid-season.
FILM
Benson is a very patient runner who has a knack for finding the right holes to dart through. He is a difficult player to bring down initially, which allows him to get through the line to the second level where he shows off some of his other key abilities. He isn’t the guy to make multiple defensive players miss, but he is elusive in the open field and has the speed and explosiveness to break away for long runs. Florida State utilized this skillset on special teams as well, putting Benson in a kick-returner role where he was also able to find the endzone. The regression in some of the aforementioned statistical categories is concerning, but hopefully he returns to his 2022 form behind more talented NFL players.
ATHLETIC TESTING
Benson cemented his status as one of the best running backs on the board in the NFL draft after running a 4.39 40-yard dash in the NFL combine (second among all RBs that ran the drill). He measured in at the combine at 6’0” and 216 lbs. His vertical jump was 33.5” and his broad jump was 10’2”. He did not participate in the 3-cone, bench press, or shuttle drills. This resulted in an overall relative size-adjusted athletic score of 9.77 out of 10 which is fourth among the 2024 class (behind Isaac Guerendo, Tyrone Tracy, and Jaylen Wright).
DRAFT ANALYSIS
Rapid Reaction to Draft Capital: Great
Rapid Reaction to Landing Spot: Great
Trey Benson was selected with the 66th-overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals.
FANTASY INSIGHTS
I have Benson ranked as the number two running back in this class for projected future dynasty value. He has the potential to make an impact at the next level and profiles as a 3-down skill set with capable and reliable hands out of the backfield. His ability as both a runner and a pass-catcher should allow for the opportunity to be a productive fantasy asset for multiple years. I worry about his ability to earn a second contract with some of the upcoming classes, so his overall dynasty window may be smaller than ideal. James Conner will also likely be more involved in the offense than we want him to be, taking away from Benson’s immediate reliability in your starting lineup for 2024.
Trey Benson should go off the board in rookie drafts in the mid-second round.
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