There should no longer be any questions on if the Las Vegas Raiders want to bring back defensive end Malcolm Koonce. New head coach Pete Carroll and now Maxx Crosby have both revealed they want him back as soon as possible.
Obviously, the contract stuff needs to be worked out. Koonce is coming off of a season that ended before it even started, as he dealt with a pretty bad injury in training camp and didn't play a single snap in 2024. And, to make matters worse for him, last season was a contract year. The Raiders were expecting him to have a huge season after having a pretty good year in 2023.
Unfortunately that didn't happen. And, unfortunately for him, his injury gives the Raiders a discount on a potential contract, if the two sides were to come to an agreement. And, his injury may make other teams want to stay away from him. But, the Raiders aren't scared at all.
They are ready to get him in the building as soon as possible. Crosby can't get enough of him.
"Malcolm Koonce, I'm telling you, this guy, I have seen him since a pup when he first got in the league. He's another mid-American conference guy, cool, calm, collected, and confident as hell. And, he has learned how to work so I don't have to sit there and say anything. He comes over, 'Maxx, you're doing grip? Okay, I'm going to do grip.' Some guys are easy like that. Some guys, you have to pull as hard as you can and say get your ass in the weight room."
Crosby is basically giving his pitch as to why the Raiders should bring Koonce back. And, he may not have to do much of that. Carroll has already said one of his top priorities defensively with this free agent class they have hitting the market, is to bring Koonce back.
And, they may address the position in the draft, considering how deep this class is. Either way, it's obvious they want Koonce back.
