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The Las Vegas Raiders managed to keep their promising pass-rush duo together by re-signing Malcolm Koonce, who will return to the spot opposite Maxx Crosby in 2025 after missing all of 2024.
Koonce suffered a significant knee injury before the season started and was unable to return. And, while he had a breakout year in 2023, the jury is still out on Koonce, and it's entirely possible he won't be himself in his first year back from the injury.
If the Raiders want to compete in an extremely difficult AFC West, they should look to bolster their pass-rush, which is headlined by Crosby, Koonce and disappointing 2023 draft pick, Tyree Wilson.
If the Raiders want to add more pass-rush help, Justin Melo of The Draft Network is predicting that help will come in the form of former New England Patriots $54 million edge rusher, Matt Judon.
The Las Vegas Raiders have been overly reliant on Maxx Crosby for years, and that doesn't appear primed to change in 2025. New general manager John Spytek re-signed Malcolm Koonce to a one-year contract after missing the 2024 campaign with a season-ending knee injury. The Raiders hope Koonce can recapture the 2023 form that allowed him to total a career-high 8.0 sacks.
Every EDGE on the roster besides Crosby is a projection. Tyree Wilson hasn’t met the expectations of a No. 7 overall pick. The Raiders also signed Senior Bowl standout defensive end Jah Joyner in undrafted free agency. Adding Judon would offer the Raiders another veteran solution while players like Wilson and Koonce continue rounding into their best form.
A four-time Pro Bowler, Judon turned into one of the better edge rushers in the NFL during his days with the New England Patriots, where he tallied 28 sacks combined in 2021 and 2022.
However, things have gone off the rails for Judon since then. Judon only played in four games in 2023 due to injury, and he followed that up with 5.5 sacks with the Atlanta Falcons in 2024.
Decline is certainly a fear with the soon-to-be 33-year-old, but it's important to note that his down season came following his injury-shortened 2023 campaign, so it's possible he can bounce back in 2025.
The good news is, the Raiders wouldn't need Judon to carry the pass-rush thanks to the presence of Crosby. Instead, Judon would be a rotational edge rusher who can also provide an insurance policy for Koonce in the event he doesn't perform.
Spotrac's contract projection for Judon comes in at a modest two-year, $8.4 million deal, which is realistic and a price the Raiders can easily afford.
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