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5 Raiders who desperately need to develop in the 2022 offseason

By Brad Weiss

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - SEPTEMBER 26: Offensive tackle Alex Leatherwood #70 of the Las Vegas Raiders looks during a game against the Miami Dolphins at Allegiant Stadium on September 26, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Raiders defeated the Dolphins 31-28 in overtime. (Photo by Chris Unger/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - SEPTEMBER 26: Offensive tackle Alex Leatherwood #70 of the Las Vegas Raiders looks during a game against the Miami Dolphins at Allegiant Stadium on September 26, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Raiders defeated the Dolphins 31-28 in overtime. (Photo by Chris Unger/Getty Images) /
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INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – AUGUST 21: Malcolm Koonce #51 of the Las Vegas Raiders celebrates a tackle against the Los Angeles Rams during a preseason NFL game in the second half at SoFi Stadium on August 21, 2021, in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – AUGUST 21: Malcolm Koonce #51 of the Las Vegas Raiders celebrates a tackle against the Los Angeles Rams during a preseason NFL game in the second half at SoFi Stadium on August 21, 2021, in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

5 Raiders who desperately need to develop in the 2022 offseason

No. 4: Malcolm Koonce

The Las Vegas Raiders drafted Malcolm Koonce in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft, making him the 79th player selected overall. Blessed with incredible speed and power coming off the edge, Koonce was seen as someone who could have provided the team depth behind Maxx Crosby and Yannick Ngakoue, but his rookie year really never took off.

Instead, Koonce was inactive for most of the season, but we did get to see a flash from him against the then-Washington Football Team, where he got a sack of Taylor Heinicke. With Ngakoue and Crosby as arguably the best pass-rushing duo in the NFL, Koonce just needs to improve this offseason, because it will free up a lot of cap space.

Right now, Carl Nassib is the No. 3 edge rusher on this team, but with his contract, the team may decide to move on from him this offseason. That would mean a golden opportunity for Koonce, and if he can develop across the next few months heading into camp, he certainly has the physical gifts to be an impact player in Year 2.

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