Caleb Downs has been as advertised in his first training camp. Whether it be in coverage, filling gaps in the run game, or making open-field tackles, the Dallas Cowboys' No. 11 overall pick has dropped myriad teasers of what fans can expect during the regular season.
It's been a slower burn for Malachi Lawrence. Of course, that's generally the case with late-risers in the draft process. He's working on removing a false step and learning how to win against NFL tackles.
Over the past week, though, Lawrence has started making his presence felt.
That continued in Tuesday's joint practice with the New Orleans Saints, when the No. 23 overall pick blew past the Saints right tackle Taliese Fuaga with a filthy inside move to sack Tyler Shough (h/t Nick Harris, Star-Telegram).
It's taken some time, but Lawrence is starting to show flashes of what he can become off the edge for Christian Parker.
Malachi Lawrence is starting to make waves in Dallas Cowboys training camp
Lawrence's sack of Shough is a timely reminder that he can win inside and out. He had Fuaga, the No. 14 overall pick in 2024, on skates. The second he gave Lawrence too much inside leverage in anticipation of an outside rush, the rookie made him pay.
To be clear, this isn't the first glimpse Lawrence has shown. He's had a handful of would-be sacks throughout the Cowboys' time in Oxnard. Splash plays against Dallas' offense are important, but you'd much rather the Central Florida product show that in joint practices and the preseason.
Speaking of, Lawrence's preseason debut was largely positive.
Say what you will about Pro Football Focus' grading system, but Lawrence was the Cowboys' fourth-highest-graded defensive player with an 80.1 grade. He only played 17 snaps, but he tallied a 12.5 percent pressure rate and two defensive stops.
The 23-year-old also showed great contain on a play where Jalen Milroe got flushed out of the pocket. He stayed in control to cut down running lanes, and Milroe only gained a few yards before running out of bounds. He also played with good physicality against the run.
That’s not to say it was a perfect outing. On one scramble, he disciplined his pursuit against Milroe, but on another, he overcommitted. By taking the inside shoulder without backside help, he opened up an easy escape route for the QB that resulted in a first-down scramble.
Of course, you want to see Lawrence make mistakes in the preseason. He's built in the Caleb Downs mold, obsessively asking the right questions and striving for continuous growth.
Lawrence's talent and potential are undeniable. It's just going to take a minute for it to come together, which makes the Von Miller signing all the more important.
With Miller likely to play around 20 snaps per game, Lawrence doesn't have to be thrown into a prominent role when he probably isn't ready for one. However, he's had enough flashes in camp to suggest he'll be impactful in a complementary role while he refines his craft.
He can become a monster off the edge. It's just going to take time.
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