As the Las Vegas Raiders head into another pivotal offseason, much of the conversation naturally gravitates toward the quarterback position. But there’s another decision looming that could quietly shape the direction of the defense in 2026 - what to do with free-agent defensive end Malcolm Koonce.
Koonce returned to the field this past season after missing all of 2024 with a knee injury, and while his comeback didn’t make a ton of headlines, it was a steady one. He suited up for all 17 games, starting three, and finished with 30 tackles and 4.5 sacks.
Not eye-popping numbers, especially when you consider that Maxx Crosby was still commanding double-teams on the opposite edge. In theory, that should’ve opened up more one-on-one opportunities for Koonce.
But the Raiders’ defense - and really, the team as a whole - was in such a state of flux that consistent production was tough to come by for anyone not named Crosby.
Still, Koonce’s situation is more nuanced than the stat line might suggest. He’s 27, just two years removed from an eight-sack season in 2023, and played over 500 snaps this year in a rotational role. That kind of workload shows the coaching staff trusted him to contribute, even if the overall impact didn’t jump off the screen.
Against the run, Koonce held his own - and then some. At 6'2", 250 pounds, he might not fit the classic mold of a run-stuffing edge, but he graded out with a 66.1 from Pro Football Focus.
That’s solid, if not elite (80+ is typically the benchmark for top-tier performance). He racked up 15 solo tackles, seven assists, five sacks, and 22 quarterback hurries, according to PFF.
Those hurries in particular show he was getting pressure, even if he wasn’t always finishing the play.
The big question now is what kind of contract Koonce is looking for - and whether the Raiders are in a position to meet it. He played on a deal worth just over $11 million this past season, a figure that outpaced his on-field value.
Coming off an injury and a modest statistical year, a one-year “prove-it” deal might be the most realistic path forward for both sides. In that scenario, Koonce could serve as a valuable depth piece, especially if the Raiders want to keep some continuity on a defense that’s likely to see plenty of turnover.
But if Koonce is seeking a multi-year deal, things get trickier. The Raiders are still in the early stages of a rebuild, and unless they see Koonce as a long-term piece, committing significant money to a rotational edge rusher doesn’t align with where the roster is headed.
And this all becomes even more complicated if the Raiders decide to move on from Maxx Crosby. That’s a massive “if,” but the idea of trading Crosby for draft capital has at least been floated. If that happens, Las Vegas would be fully leaning into a reset, and re-signing Koonce - especially at a premium - wouldn’t make much sense.
Ultimately, the Raiders’ decision on Koonce will depend on two things: his price tag and the broader vision for the defensive line. With a new head coach still to be hired and plenty of roster questions still unanswered, the situation remains fluid.
But one thing is clear - every dollar and every roster spot will count in this next phase of the rebuild. And for a team looking to reshape its identity, investments in depth players like Koonce will need to be both strategic and cost-effective.