The Las Vegas Raiders were expected to have one of the best defensive lines in the NFL last season. Unfortunately, injuries plagued the unit, as edge rusher Malcolm Koonce tore his ACL before the season opener and defensive tackle Christian Wilkins broke his foot in the first quarter of the season.
Luckily, the Raiders have both of these players under contract for the 2025 season. Under new head coach Pete Carroll and alongside several new additions from general manager John Spytek, this defensive line could finally live up to the lofty expectations that were placed on them before the start of last season.
Las Vegas Raiders DE Maxx Crosby (98) and Malcolm Koonce (51).
Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Star edge rusher Maxx Crosby recently had Koonce as a guest on his podcast, "The Rush with Maxx Crosby." After the episode was uploaded and fans had reacted to what was said, Crosby made an incredibly strong statement about his teammate.
"More Is Required," Crosby wrote. "One Of The Best Teammates I’ve Ever Had, Greatness Incoming For 51. 🦅🖤"
Koonce took a bit of time to get going in the NFL, but he made a major leap in his third season. In the last nine games of the 2023 campaign, he recorded 8.0 sacks, which was one of the highest marks in the league during that span.
Alongside Crosby and a slew of other great talents on the defensive line, this defense should surprise some people this year. They'll need to wreak havoc if they want a chance to improve from last year's four-win season.
