Malcolm Koonce

Malcolm Koonce. Player Profile

Summary

Malcolm Koonce was selected in Round 3 (#79 Overall) of the 2021 Draft out of the University at Buffalo, where over four seasons he totaled 100+ tackles, 22.5 tackles for loss, and 18 sacks. In college, he earned First‑Team All‑MAC honors in both 2019 and 2020. As of his 2025 re-signing, Koonce has played multiple seasons with the Raiders, putting up career highs in 2023: 8.0 sacks, 40 tackles, 9 TFL, and 3 forced fumbles. He is considered a high-motor edge rusher with good length, burst, and a solid work ethic.

Strengths

  • Explosiveness / First Step: Very quick off the snap, which allows him to penetrate and disrupt in the backfield. Las Vegas Raiders

  • Length & Athleticism: Though not massive, he is long-armed, fluid, and uses his reach well to disengage from blockers. Silver And Black Pride

  • Pass‑Rushing Repertoire: Uses hand technique, length, and a consistent club–rip move to counter offensive linemen. Silver And Black Pride

  • Run Defense / Gap Disruption: Can hold his ground vs. the run and make plays behind the line, showing good instincts for run fits.

  • High Motor / Competitiveness: Plays with effort on every snap; has a non‑stop motor that helps him stay active through the whistle.

  • Durability & Experience: Played 45 games in college, starting many, showing he can sustain a workload. University at Buffalo

  • Character / Coachability: Regarded as a hard worker, coachable, and someone who embraces his role; his Raiders bio highlights these traits. Las Vegas Raiders

  • Big‑Play Upside: Has forced fumbles, and his burst and technique give him the potential to generate splash plays.

Weaknesses

  • Size Limitations: At around 6'2"–6'3", ~249–250 lb, he’s not the biggest edge defender, which may limit his ability to hold up against power offensive tackles in every matchup. Las Vegas Raiders

  • Counter‑Move Consistency: While he has a go-to club–rip, his counter-move arsenal can be limited if his first move is shut down. Silver And Black Pride

  • Stiff vs Lateral Movement: He can struggle with very agile, lateral-moving tackles; his bend helps, but his change of direction could improve.

  • Positional Projection Risk: He’s somewhat of a “tweener” — not quite a big power end, which raises questions about his best long-term fit (pure edge vs sub-package).

  • Inconsistency in Pressure-to-Sack Conversion: While he wins his matchups often, there are games where he pressures but doesn’t finish as many sacks.

Fit & Outlook

Malcolm Koonce projects as a rotational but potentially ascending edge rusher in the NFL. On the Raiders, he’s carved out a role where his burst, length, and effort make him valuable—particularly on obvious pass-rush downs or in sub‑packages. He’s not just a one-trick speed rusher; his ability to stay active in the run game and make tackles for loss gives him a multi-dimensional profile. Looking forward, his outlook is promising. If he continues to refine his counter moves and becomes more consistent in converting pressures into sacks, he could develop into a full-time starter or key complementary piece opposite a more established edge defender (e.g., Maxx Crosby). Given his 2025 contract, the Raiders clearly believe in his upside. In the best case, he grows into a high-effort, high-impact edge player who can disrupt both in the pass and run games; in the more conservative case, he remains a valuable rotational pass-rush specialist and “second wave” piece off the edge.