After going the conventional route by trading up one pick to select Caleb Downs with the 11th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys went more out of left field with their second pick. They moved down with the Philadelphia Eagles and took UCF edge rusher Malachi Lawrence with pick 23.
Not everyone is super bullish on Lawrence, but as one of the fastest-rising prospects late in the pre-draft process, Dallas added some value to their uninspiring pass-rushing room. And it seems as though NFL Network's Brian Baldinger is a fan of the approach from Jerry Jones to come away with the man.
"This is how you come off the edge... Long arm, fast, explosive off the edge," Baldinger said... Being able to turn the corner, being able to bend, all those things that you hear about defensive linemen, he showed you... Cowboys are loading up on the edge and should have a new defensive performance this year, and it should start up front with some elite players."
The Dallas Cowboys got an exciting young edge in Malachi Lawrence
Baldinger made it clear that the 22-year-old is explosive off the edge, but his long arms are basically a cherry on top for his strong burst. His analysis (and his tape itself) made it clear that Lawrence is a player who will have success in the NFL, even if he doesn't turn into the game-wrecker MIcah Parsons was in Dallas.
Under new DC Christian Parker, the Cowboys are clearly committing to a new defensive identity, and Lawrence fits perfectly into that. He logged a staggering 9.94 RAS, as at 6-foot-4 and 3/8 and 252 pounds, his 4.52 second 40-yard dash and 40-inch vertical are incredibly impressive at his size.
The First Team All-Big 12 nominee logged seven sacks and 11 tackles for loss for UCF in 2025, and has 27.5 TFLs and 19.5 sacks across the last three seasons. It's against mediocre Big 12 talent, but like Baldinger noted, his burst was put on display time and again regardless of the competition.
It sounds like Jadeveon Clowney wont be back, so good on Jerry to nab a high-upside young pass-rusher, especially considering the last Lawrence he drafted morphed into a Pro Bowler.
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