Malcolm Koonce Thriving in Important Preseason

Las Vegas Raiders defensive lineman Malcolm Koonce has shown improvement in a preseason that is incredibly important for him as a player.

The Las Vegas Raiders are looking for defensive line help from wherever they can get it.

Next to defensive end Maxx Crosby, they need to find defenders who can consistently get to the quarterback, set the edge and stop the run. 

Defensive end Chandler Jones looks much more comfortable going into his second season as a Raider, and might return to form in 2023.

Beyond those two, the Raiders still need to find more production on the defensive line. This is where third-year man Malcolm Koonce can step in.

Koonce, a third-round selection in the 2021 NFL Draft out of Buffalo, has appeared in 22 games in two seasons for the Raiders, posting 12 total tackles and two sacks. He is looking to break out in his third season in the Silver and Black.

Koonce has shown flashes throughout the preseason of the potential player the Raiders thought he could be coming out of Buffalo. The 6-2, 250-pound defensive end has not popped up on the stat sheet so far during the preseason, but has been impressive on tape through the first two games.

Koonce has posted only two tackles and four quarterback hurries, but on tape, he is consistently beating his man and applying pressure in the backfield.

Being a bit smaller than the prototypical edge rusher, Koonce uses his speed to his advantage, flying into the backfield and causing havoc for the offense. It has worked so far during the preseason, and if he can start turning that disruption into sacks and tackles for losses, Koonce could be a solid rotational rusher for the Raiders.

Koonce has yet to consistently contribute for the Raiders, and will need to do so in his third season if he wants to increase his snaps. It might be a make-or-break season for him, as the third year is commonly a year for players to make a leap and solidify their role on the team.

Koonce is looking to establish a role for himself on the Raiders in 2023, and throughout the preseason so far, has shown why he can be a reliable player for their pass rush. 

The Silver and Black return to preseason action when they play the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 26, at 8 p.m. EDT/5 p.m. PDT.

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