Rising Defensive End Re-Signs with the Raiders
As the NFL offseason approached, the Las Vegas Raiders needed to reconfigure their defensive lineup. One of the individuals they needed to find a place for would-be their defensive end, Malcolm Koonce. Koonce's NFL career began when he was drafted by the Las Vegas Raiders in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft. He signed a four-year rookie contract with the Raiders in 2021. After some deliberation, Koonce has decided to re-sign with the Raiders for a one-year deal.
In his rookie season, Koonce played in five games, recording three tackles and two sacks. The following year, he appeared in seventeen games, primarily as a backup, and recorded nine tackles. Koonce's breakout season came in 2023 when he played opposite Maxx Crosby on the Raiders' defensive line. That year, he recorded eight sacks, seventeen quarterback hits, fifty-two total pressures, and three forced fumbles across only 344 pass-rushing snaps, establishing himself as a key player on the team. Unfortunately, Koonce missed the entire 2024 season due to a knee injury. As he entered free agency, there was speculation that he might join several teams looking to fill their void of pass-rushers. Despite the setback, his teammate Maxx Crosby has spoken positively about Koonce’s work ethic on the Let’s Go podcast with Jim Gray, further proving Koonce’s value: “Malcolm Koonce, I’m telling you, this guy I’ve seen him since he was a pup when he first got in the league — another Mid-American Conference guy, Crosby began, “He is quiet, cool, collected and confident as hell. And he’s learned how to work so I don’t have to sit there and say nothing.”
With that being said, Koonce is seeking to redeem his name and forge his identity in the league. There are concerns about his ability to perform as he has been out for a full season. However, he still found himself on ESPN’s Top 50 Free Agents rankings in late January getting the 28th ranking from Matt Bowen, “If the knee checks out, Koonce should be viewed as a three-down defensive end with the pass-rush juice to disrupt the pocket.” Thus, viewers should look forward to Koonce showing this ability with the Raiders in the upcoming season.
