With Sunday’s loss to the Jaguars, the Raiders may be more inclined to strike a deal or two before the November 4 trade deadline, and a host of names have already been mentioned as potential trade targets.
Jackson Powers-Johnson, Jakobi Meyers, Eric Stokes, Michael Mayer and Maxx Crosby are all players that teams have reportedly called about, and NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport brought up another name to watch on Sunday.
“The Las Vegas Raiders remain open to dealing wide receiver Jakobi Meyers, but given that he is on an expiring contract and Las Vegas wants to finish the season strong, it remains up in the air if it will happen. There is some interest, but is there enough?” Rapoport wrote on Sunday.
Rapoport added that Malcolm Koonce is among a short list of pass rushers that could be traded before the Tuesday deadline.
Koonce was drafted by the Raiders in the third round of the 2021 draft and had a breakout season of sorts in 2023. Koonce missed all of the 2024 season with a knee injury and was expected to be a big part of the Raiders’ pass rush in Pete Carroll’s first year with the team.
Koonce was signed to a one-year deal in the offseason and will become an unrestricted free agent after the 2025 season. With a big year, Koonce would be in line for a big pay day in March.
Through the first half of the season, though, Koonce has not stood out.
Over the first seven games of the season, Koonce recorded only one sack and ranked 63rd among edge rushers with 14 quarterback pressures, according to Pro Football Focus analytics.
Typically, statistics like that aren’t in big demand at the trade deadline, but at 27 years old, there might be a team interested in seeing if Koonce can return to his 2023 form.
In nine games to close out the 2023 season, Koonce recorded 8 sacks and his numbers down the stretch were marginally better than Maxx Crosby’s that year.
Prior to the 2024 season, Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham was asked to name a player that he thought would make a huge stride in 2024. The player he named was Koonce.
“I don’t want to put anybody on the spot, but I just love what Malcolm [Koonce] has been able to do,” Graham said 15 months ago.
“In terms of what he was able to do last year and the way he’s working right now. I think he could care less what happened last year. He’s just like Maxx, you have to do every week, every year, it’s a new season,” Graham continued. “The way he’s been working, the maturity in terms of him growing into himself as an NFL player and knowing who he is and being able to communicate that and execute it. It should be fun to watch. I’m not going to predict this and that. I just know this. Show me you’re doing the work. We’ll see what the results are. Let’s rock. He’s putting in that work.”
Some have suggested that Koonce is off to a slow start in part because he hasn’t trusted his surgically repaired knee, and if that’s the case, he could be one of the NFL’s sneaky bargains ahead of the trade deadline.
x: @raidersbeat
Better to get a late rd pick for Koonce than to let him walk for nothing. But, I wonder if the team can get a compensatory pick if he signs elsewhere in the off season? Teams that want him would have to better their offer.