Las Vegas Raiders: Grading the 7-player 2021 NFL Draft class
Las Vegas Raiders: Grading the 7-player 2021 NFL Draft class
Round 3: No. 79 – Malcolm Koonce, EDGE, Buffalo
The Raiders doubled up on defensive players in the third round as many expected them to including yours truly. They used the 79th pick on a player in EDGE Malcolm Koonce from Buffalo that split the opinions of scouts as some, including Mel Kiper, had him as a second-round pick while others had him graded as low as a 7th rounder.
If it wasn’t already clear that this draft business is a crapshoot and no one truly knows what to expect, Malcolm Koonce is a great example. Koonce measures well at 6-3, 250lbs and is a long and lanky edge rusher who can play as a standup linebacker or defensive end. He has solid production with 18 sacks in 19 starts and was First Team All-MAC in 2019 and 2020.
It is impossible to know if he would have indeed lasted until the 7th round given the split opinions on him but he projects to be an immediate contributor as a situational pass rusher. Perhaps the Raiders could have used the selection on a more accomplished pass rusher who faced better competition such as Patrick Jones II from Pittsburgh or Chauncey Golston from Iowa.