Malcolm Koonce might just be the most underrated player on the Las Vegas Raiders’ roster—and that’s by design. After a breakout 2023 season in which he posted 8.0 sacks over the final nine games, the former third-round pick looked ready to become a cornerstone on defense. But just days before the 2024 opener, Koonce tore his ACL, derailing what could have been a career-defining year.
Now fully healthy and re-signed to a one-year deal, Koonce is determined to pick up where he left off. Despite interest from other teams in free agency, Koonce never wanted to leave. “I knew I wanted to come back,” he told teammate Maxx Crosby on The Rush. “I wanted to play with the guys again.”
Malcolm Koonce: The Las Vegas Raiders’ Best-Kept Secret on the Verge of a Breakout
That loyalty could pay off—for both sides. With Maxx Crosby and new addition Christian Wilkins drawing attention, Koonce is in position to quietly wreak havoc off the edge. Bleacher Report recently named him the Raiders’ “best-kept secret,” highlighting his elite pass rush and underrated run defense, evidenced by his 66.3 PFF grade in 2023.
The emotional toll of missing a season wasn’t lost on him either. “I felt like I was letting people down,” Koonce said. “AP [Antonio Pierce], the D-line, the team—I just felt like I owed them.”
His perspective has shifted, and his drive has only intensified. “I appreciate seeing it from a different angle,” he said about the injury. Now, with a full offseason under his belt and a contract year ahead, Koonce is primed to silence any remaining doubts.
As Crosby put it: “One of the best teammates I’ve ever had. Greatness incoming for 51.” If Koonce stays healthy, he may not be a secret for much longer.