One of the big disappointments for the Las Vegas Raiders last season was defensive end Malcolm Koonce suffering a season-ending injury before playing a game. He was coming off a breakout year and was expected to be a very good running mate for Maxx Crosby.
Hopes were high for the Raiders’ defense prior to his injury. The team was never able to reach its full potential on the defensive line, which made it difficult for the defense to thrive.
Koonce re-signed with the Raiders on a one-year deal this offseason, but could stand to make a lot more next offseason. Dalton Wasserman of Pro Football Focus listed a player from every season who is entering a make-or-break season, and Koonce was his pick for Las Vegas.
“The Raiders have long been looking for an effective pass rush partner for Maxx Crosby,” Wasserman wrote. “Down the stretch of the 2023 season, it looked like they may have found that player in Malcolm Koonce. From Weeks 10 through 18, he earned an outstanding 84.9 PFF pass-rush grade. Unfortunately, he didn’t play a single snap in 2024 due to injury, but he signed a new one-year contract with the hope of regaining that level of play in 2025. If he does, the Raiders could have a potentially lethal pass rush.”
Koonce Credits Patrick Graham for Raiders Return
Even with Koonce losing his 2024 season, his play was promising enough in 2023 that he should’ve had options this offseason. However, he was really hoping to return to the Raiders.
He credited defensive coordinator Patrick Graham as one of the key factors why he wanted to come back.
“It’s a big part [of why I re-signed],” Koonce told reporters recently. “Pat [Graham], he’s seen me grow into the player that I am, so I’m very comfortable around him, comfortable in the system. And it’s always great to be around guys that believe in you … felt like a weight lifted off my shoulders, so I’m happy.”
Koonce Could’ve Signed Elsewhere
Koonce didn’t do much of anything in his first two seasons, but exploded for 8.0 sacks in Year 3. Based on the strength of that season alone, there were other teams out there willing to sign him.
“The draft is stressful because you don’t know where you’re going. Free agency is like your mini-draft that nobody knows what’s going on but you, your agent, and maybe your family and stuff like that,” Koonce said on “The Rush” podcast.
“I knew I wanted to come back [to the Raiders]. I knew I wanted to play with you guys again. So my agent would be like ‘These people are interested’ and I’d be like ‘Well, what did the Raiders say?’ He’d say ‘These people are offering this’ and I’d be like ‘Have you checked with the Raiders in the last couple of days?’”
Koonce is betting on himself this season by accepting a one-year deal. If he’s healthy, but looks more like he did in his first two seasons, he’s not going to make much. If he looks like he did in Year 2, he’s going to get a massive payday.
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