DAL Malachi Lawrence
NFL player. Position: EDGE. Team: DAL.
Quick Facts
- Position: EDGE
- Team: DAL (Dallas Cowboys)
- College: UCF
- Draft: 2026, Round 1
2026 Outlook
UCF defensive end Malachi Lawrence was drafted in round 1 by Dallas as part of the Cowboys' pass-rush rebuild following the Micah Parsons trade. Lawrence is athletic and energetic, competing for reps with veterans Rashan Gary, Sam Williams, and sophomore Donovan Ezeiruaku under new defensive coordinator Christian Parker. Head coach Brian Schottenheimer has been pleased with Lawrence's early OTA performances, suggesting the first-rounder will work into a rotation role quickly. Dallas likely plans a true pass-rush rotation, which should provide Lawrence with regular snaps as a rookie (per One Rookie From Every NFL Draft Round Forcing Tough Depth Chart Decisions Already).
At OTAs, Lawrence made an immediate impact by beating potential starting left tackle Tyler Guyton for a sack, demonstrating early competitive success in practice and confirming the team's investment in the first-rounder. (per NFL Draft Rookies Who Are Suddenly Impossible to Ignore at OTAs)
Run defense adjustment needed: Lawrence's main scheme-fit challenge is run defense—he needs to play with better discipline and assignment integrity while consistently edge-setting against the run. Cowboys DC Christian Parker may deploy Lawrence wider than normal to give him margin for error or use more stunts/slants to help the rookie adjust. Lawrence showed strong productivity at UCF (7.5 sacks in 2023) and proficiency with interior pass-rush moves, which should help offset early-season run-defense limitations (per Malachi Lawrence's Fit in Cowboys Defensive Scheme Requires One Key Adjustment).
Role / Depth Chart
Competing in EDGE rotation with Rashan Gary, Sam Williams, and Donovan Ezeiruaku. Expected to earn steady snaps in rotation.
Recent News
- 2026-04-23 — Cowboys depth chart projection: How Caleb Downs, Malachi Lawrence draft picks impact... (Cowboys depth chart projection: How Caleb Downs, Malachi Lawrence draft picks impact...)
- 2026-04-24 — Malachi Lawrence's Fit in Cowboys Defensive Scheme Requires One Key Adjustment (Malachi Lawrence's Fit in Cowboys Defensive Scheme Requires One Key Adjustment)
- 2026-06-22 — 2026 NFL training camp report dates, joint practices, top storyline for all 32 teams (2026 NFL training camp report dates, joint practices, top storyline for all 32 teams)
- 2026-04-27 — Dallas Cowboys 2026 post-draft depth chart projection (Dallas Cowboys 2026 post-draft depth chart projection)
- 2026-04-20 — 2026 NFL mock draft: Jordan Reid's predictions for 257 picks (2026 NFL mock draft: Jordan Reid's predictions for 257 picks)
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- 2026-06-09 — College Football Future Power Rankings through 2027 (College Football Future Power Rankings through 2027)