Rayshaun Benny

The Player

Benny is a steady, assignment-sound interior defensive lineman whose game is built on discipline, strength at the point of attack, and consistency rather than flash. A high-floor prospect, he projects as a reliable rotational piece who can anchor a front and minimize mistakes.

His defining trait is block control. Benny excels at maintaining gap integrity, using strong lower-body power, balance, and length to anchor against double-teams and hold his ground in the run game. He consistently stays square, recognizes blocking schemes, and prevents displacement better than most in his size range. While disengagement isn’t his primary strength, he does enough to shed and finish when the opportunity presents itself—and he’s highly efficient in those moments, as reflected by his very low missed tackle rate.

Athletically, he’s functional but limited. Benny lacks an explosive first step and doesn’t offer much lateral quickness or closing burst, which caps his ceiling as a pass rusher. That said, he can be effective on stunts, slants, and movement-based pressures, where his effort, balance, and awareness allow him to create occasional disruption. His pass rush production is modest, relying more on effort and positioning than dynamic traits or overpowering strength.

What stands out on tape is his motor, technique, and competitiveness. He consistently plays hard, stays engaged, and shows strong awareness of the football. The more you watch him, the more his reliability and toughness become apparent.

The Draft

In an underwhelming interior defensive line class, Benny’s NFL readiness and consistency as a run defender stand out. Expect his name to be called late on day two or early on day three. 

The Projection

Benny projects as a mid-round rotational IDL with starter utility in the right scheme, particularly as a run defender. His lack of explosiveness limits his upside as a pass rusher, but his consistency, toughness, and ability to control the line of scrimmage give him a clear path to a long NFL role. He plays a lot like Roy Robertson-Harris (Giants), just four inches shorter. While they look different coming off the bus, Robertson-Harris has been in the league for nine years and has started 66 games the past five seasons (Jaguars, Seahawks, Giants). Much like Benny, he’s a consistently strong run defender but he’s accumulated just 11.5 sacks during that five-year span.