In a season that’s been nothing short of a nightmare for the Las Vegas Raiders, fans and experts alike are scratching their heads over the team’s future. With the playoffs a distant dream and the roster riddled with underperformers, the big question looms: Who, if anyone, deserves a ticket back for 2026? Sure, franchise pillars like edge-rushing beast Maxx Crosby, rising star Ashton Jeanty, and tight end sensation Brock Bowers are locked in on long-term deals, sparing the front office from any immediate heartbreak. But when it comes to the free-agent crop, the debate is heating up—and one analyst just dropped a bombshell that’s got everyone talking.
Enter Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report, who isn’t mincing words in his latest breakdown. In a brutally honest assessment, Knox calls out the Raiders’ dismal 2025 campaign, labeling their roster as one of the NFL’s biggest flops. “The Las Vegas Raiders have fielded one of the league’s most disappointing rosters in 2025,” Knox penned. “Even with top-tier players like Maxx Crosby and Brock Bowers in the lineup, Las Vegas has struggled to put a quality team on the field.” He doesn’t stop there, acknowledging the fanbase’s growing frustration: “Raiders fans might make the argument that letting every 2026 free agent walk and starting over is the best course of action. That probably isn’t the wildest idea either.”
But here’s where Knox stuns with his blunt take—he’s pounding the table for the Raiders to prioritize re-signing defensive end Malcolm Koonce, a player who’s been more ghost than game-changer this year. Koonce exploded onto the scene in 2023 with a breakout campaign, racking up eight sacks and 17 quarterback hits. Then disaster struck: a torn ACL sidelined him for all of 2024. The Raiders rolled the dice with a one-year “prove-it” deal this offseason, hoping he’d reclaim his edge-rushing throne alongside Crosby. Instead? A massive letdown. Koonce has been largely invisible, scraping together just two sacks and four quarterback hits while offering little in run defense.
Despite the underwhelming stats, Knox sees untapped potential in the 27-year-old. “However, edge-rusher Malcolm Koonce has the potential to be an integral long-term piece, albeit one a tier or two below the likes of Crosby and Bowers,” Knox argues. “The 27-year-old missed the entire 2024 season with a torn ACL but flashed with eight sacks and 17 quarterback hits the previous season. Koonce is again healthy and has logged two sacks and four quarterback hits. Extending him would make a lot more sense than chasing edge help in the offseason.” It’s a shocking endorsement for a player who’s failed to live up to the hype, but Knox believes Koonce could be the cost-effective building block the Raiders desperately need.
Not everyone is buying it, though—and for good reason. If the Raiders do bite on Koonce, it’d have to be on a bargain-bin contract, far below his current prove-it deal. His lack of impact this season screams “buyer beware.” Instead, the spotlight should shine brighter on cornerback Eric Stokes, another one-year signee who’s quietly emerged as the Raiders’ defensive MVP in the secondary. Stokes has been a lockdown artist, outshining the rest of the backfield and proving he’s worth every penny of a potential extension. In a season full of defensive woes, Stokes stands out as the clear priority—the guy who’s actually earned his keep.
As the Raiders limp toward the end of this forgettable year, their defense is licking wounds from consecutive ugly outings. But hope flickers in Week 13 against a hobbled Los Angeles Chargers offense. Defensive coordinator Patrick Graham broke down the matchup on Thursday, zeroing in on one of the Bolts’ key threats—a savvy wideout who’s been a nightmare for secondaries. “I mean, the first thing people are going to talk about is savvy blah, blah, blah. So, like the man is a skilled wide receiver,” Graham said. “I mean, you don’t make that many catches just based off of savviness. Savviness probably came as he continued to see more and more reps and got to understand how people are trying to cover him and things of that nature.”
Graham didn’t stop at skill alone, praising the receiver’s versatility: “But it first starts with the skill. The thing also when they move him around, you have to make note of his intelligence to be able to play different spots, whether Z, X or the slot receiver. However, they move him around, that’s a positive, even when they bring him in there the chip. I mean, he’s a smart player.” With the Chargers banged up, this could be the Raiders’ chance to salvage some pride—and maybe give players like Koonce or Stokes one last shot to make their case.
As the offseason approaches, Knox’s bold call on Koonce adds fuel to the Raiders’ rebuild fire. Is he a hidden gem or a risky gamble? One thing’s for sure: In Raider Nation, the debate is just getting started.