Las Vegas Raiders Re-Sign Malcolm Koonce to ‘Prove-It’ Type Contract
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The Las Vegas Raiders have been very busy this offseason.
Right off the bat, they made a coaching change. Antonio Pierce was fired and then replaced by Pete Carroll. That alone was a potential upgrade for the Raiders.
Following that move, the Raiders had a lot of work to do on their roster.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – NOVEMBER 12: Defensive ends Maxx Crosby #98 and Malcolm Koonce #51 of the Las Vegas Raiders celebrate Koonce’s strip sack against the New York Jets in the third quarter of their… LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – NOVEMBER 12: Defensive ends Maxx Crosby #98 and Malcolm Koonce #51 of the Las Vegas Raiders celebrate Koonce’s strip sack against the New York Jets in the third quarter of their game at Allegiant Stadium on November 12, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Raiders defeated the Jets 16-12. Koonce will miss the season.
Ethan Miller/Getty Images
One of the biggest needs heading into the offseason was to find a quarterback upgrade. Las Vegas pulled off a trade with the Seattle Seahawks to land Geno Smith. He appears to be the guy that they want to build around for years to come.
Read more: New York Jets QB Justin Fields Is the Perfect Replacement for Aaron Rodgers
Heading into NFL free agency, the Raiders were an intriguing team to talk about. They have been relatively quiet, although they have lost players like Robert Spillane, Trevon Moehrig, and Nate Hobbs.
Finally, Las Vegas made a quality move. They were able to keep one of their pass rushers in-house.
According to a report from NFL insider Ian Rapoport, the Raiders have agreed to a one-year, $12 million contract with Malcolm Koonce.
Koonce will pick up where he left off, forming a duo pass-rushing tandem with Maxx Crosby. Despite many different trade rumors, Crosby is expected to be back in Las Vegas for the 2025 season as well.
Ahead of the 2024 season, Koonce ended up suffering a knee injury that kept him out for the entire year. He will be looking to bounce back strong and prove that he can still be an elite player.
Read more: What’s Next for Vikings Following Sam Darnold Landing With Seahawks
During the 2023 campaign with the Raiders, Koonce played in all 17 regular season games. He racked up 43 total tackles to go along with eight sacks and three forced fumbles. His talent and potential were clear during that season.
At just 26 years old, Las Vegas is clearly betting on his ability to get back to full health and build off of his 2023 season with this deal. If he can do that, he could very well earn a long-term extension with the Raiders.
If Las Vegas is going to be a serious contender in the AFC next season, it will need a strong pass rush. Playing in the AFC West with the elite quarterback talent it features is no easy task. Koonce and company will be asked to put pressure on Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert, and Bo Nix at a high level.
It will be interesting to see how this move pans out. Hopefully, Koonce can stay healthy and get back to being an impact player off of the edge.
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