Shortly after trading up with their first of two first-round picks, the Dallas Cowboys traded down with their second one to grab UCF edge rusher Malachi Lawrence with the 23rd pick of the first round.
That’s slightly higher than he was generally projected to go, but it fills a major area of need for a Cowboys team looking to rebuild its defense. He was a dominant Big 12 player this past season and will be expected to step right in as a Game 1 starter.
Malachi Lawrence university
Malchi Lawrence attended the University of Central Florida.
Malachi Lawrence draft grade
6.34, per NFL.com
More: When do the Dallas Cowboys pick today? Full draft order for first round
Malachi Lawrence strengths, weaknesses
According to NFL.com: “An NFL-caliber edge rusher with prototypical size and length, Lawrence moves with the suddenness of a smaller player. Explosive get-off and a deep bag of moves/counters fuel his pocket disruption. He can win inside or outside but his speed-to-power conversion is average. His hands are subtle but skilled to quickly unlock openings and his secondary rush. He closes with burst and has the motor to hound scrambling quarterbacks. The next level will bring better tackles and more quick-sets, which will test how well his production translates. He makes splash plays behind the line but must provide better consistency and discipline in run support. Lawrence is an ascending prospect with rush polish and pro traits that should be enticing for pressure-hungry defenses.”
Malachi Lawrence football stats
2025: First-team All-Big 12. Led team with 11 TFLs, 7 sacks. Started all 12 games (28 tackles, 3 PBUs, 2 FFs).
Malachi Lawrence age
He is 22 years old.
Malachi Lawrence height
He is 6-foot-4.
Malachi Lawrence weight
He is 253 pounds.
Malachi Lawrence high school
DuPont Manual High School, Louisville, Ky.
Bret Bloomquist can be reached at bbloomquist@elpasotimes.com; @Bretbloomquist on X.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Dallas Cowboys draft UCF edge rusher Malachi Lawrence
Reporting by Bret Bloomquist, El Paso Times / El Paso Times
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
