Raiders HC Pete Carroll hopes to bring back breakout defender

Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Malcolm Koonce had a breakout season in 2023 when he recorded eight sacks. Plenty was expected from Koonce going into the 2024 NFL season, but a training camp injury derailed those plans. Koonce's season was over before it was started and the Raiders had to scramble to find a replacement, signing K'Lavon Chaisson and Charles Snowden. 

While Chaisson produced five sacks, the Raiders know what Koonce can bring to the field. Even Raiders head coach Pete Carroll acknowledged that Tuesday before the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis when he met with reporters.

Vic Tafur of The Athletic posted a message on X, formerly known as Twitter, and asked Carroll if it is a priority to bring back the Raiders' defensive free agents, which consists of Koonce, safeties Tre'von Moehrig and Marcus Epps, linebackers Robert Spillane and Divine Deablo, defensive tackles Adam Butler and John Jenkins and cornerback Nate Hobbs.

"We need every one of them back," Carroll said. "We're anxious to get Malcolm back."

That is a ringing endorsement for Koonce and it seems to indicate the Raiders will do everything they can to bring back their own unrestricted free agent like they did Monday by signing restricted free agent safety Isaiah Pola-Mao to a two-year deal. 

While it is possible the Raiders will look at other free agents, Koonce still showed promise for the Raiders before the torn ACL he suffered in training camp. In 2023, star pass-rusher Maxx Crosby and Koonce combined for 22.5 sacks, giving the team hopes of a dominant duo for defensive coordinator Patrick Graham in 2024, but that didn't happen. 

Those 2023 numbers are hard to ignore and maybe the reason why Carroll would like to bring back Koonce to Las Vegas.