Dallas has doubled down on defense with its two 2026 first-round picks. After taking safety Caleb Downs 11th overall, they’ve now added EDGE Malachi Lawrence from the University of Central Florida with the 23rd-overall pick.
There’s no big mystery as to how the Cowboys will use Lawrence going forward. He’s a natural OLB in their new 3-4 defense, converting from playing 4-3 DE for the Knights in college. At 6’4” and over 250 lbs., and based on his strengths as a player, Lawrence will clearly be an edge rusher in Dallas. He had seven sacks in his senior year at UCF, along with 11 tackles for loss. Lawrence also had three pass deflections and two forced fumbles, speaking to some disruptive and playmaking traits.
Noted for his bend and athleticism when rushing the passer, Lawrence’s primary role will be getting after the quarterback on passing downs. He’s not going to be an elite run stopper or edge setter, at least early on, but Dallas has some other options for that work. What they really needed at this point was a guy to start filling the big pass-rush shoes that Micah Parsons left empty. Lawrence may never reach that elite level, but Dallas must think he’ll help to pick him so high.
Lawrence joins Donovan Ezeiruaku and new arrival Rashan Gary as the big three in their EDGE rotation. They’ll also work in James Houston and probably Sam Williams as primary backups. We’ll see how other prospects like Tyrus Wheat and Marist Liufau fare, but Lawrence’s arrival feels like it may complete Dallas’ major efforts at this position for the 2026 offseason. Maybe they look at more of a pure run stopper, but that’s also a role that veteran Jonathan Bullard is here to help with.
As the 23rd-overall pick, Lawrence is the highest-drafted pure pass rusher that Dallas has taken since DeMarcus Ware (11th) in 2005. While Micah Parsons was a higher pick in 2001, he was not considered an EDGE when initially drafted. The Cowboys eventually kept him there exclusively after his pass-rushing prowess became so undeniable. But in terms of an out-of-the-box edge rusher, Lawrence beats out Anthony Spencer and Taco Charlton for the highest pick in over 20 years.
Malachi Lawrence now becomes a key piece to Dallas’ concerted effort to improve its defense. Like Ware and Marcus Spears in 2005, he and Caleb Downs will have high expectations and be linked for years to come as fellow first-rounders from this class. Both should walk into major roles and will have every opportunity to reward the Cowboys’ faith.