The Dallas Cowboys have used this offseason to bolster their defense, and they've kept their foot on the gas well into training camp. On Sunday, the Cowboys announced they agreed to terms with veteran pass rusher Von Miller.
Miller will join Dallas for his 15th NFL season and gives Christian Parker a proven pass rusher behind Rashan Gary and Donovan Ezeiruaku. While this move will impact the defensive line rotation, rookie Malachi Lawrence may end up benefiting the most from this veteran addition.
The Cowboys' edge room has depth now, and that means everyone won't get the same amount of reps. Considering that Lawrence is a rookie, he could get the short end of the stick there in 2026, but for the long term, it will be huge for his development.
Cowboys rookie Malachi Lawrence stands to benefit from the Von Miller signing
Lawrence being able to pick the brain of a future Hall of Famer in Miller can't be understated. The Texas A&M product is tied for ninth in NFL history with 138.5 sacks, which actually is dead even with Cowboys legend DeMarcus Ware, who FaceTimed Miller after the move became official.
Just last season, at 36, Miller finished with nine sacks and 15 QB hits for the Washington Commanders. He still has juice to get after the quarterback. Dallas brought him in for a reason, and he will certainly eat into Lawrence's reps.
But the fact that the Cowboys won't have to lean on the rookie as much is great.
The first-round pick could play around 15 snaps per game without feeling the pressure to produce right away. In addition, watching how Miller practices and getting advice from him will only make Lawrence a better player.
Malachi Lawrence can now be eased in instead of thrust into a prominent role
Miller (6'3", 250 pounds) and Lawrence (6'4", 253 pounds) are similar body types, which is another reason this could help the UCF product. Both players are better finesse rushers than power, so that's another area that can relate to.
There's no downplaying the growth that Lawrence will get from learning from Miller and being in the same defensive line room as him. The 23-year-old will likely have a limited role in 2026, but that isn't the worst thing.
Live reps are always the best form of learning, and not only will Lawrence get tips from his coaches, but Miller is now added to that list. A former Super Bowl MVP, Miller knows what it takes to succeed at this level, and his advice will go a long way.
In Lawrence's debut in the preseason game against the Seahawks, he finished with three tackles and two pressures. He showed some promise and that should continue to grow.
Confidence is an underrated factor in why players are successful or not. Sometimes, playing more but not producing as much can take down your confidence. And with Lawrence being a first-rounder, the pressure is only higher.
Miller's arrival can help keep that at bay and allow the rookie to learn from one of the best pass rushers in league history. When you step back and view the entire situation, Lawrence is arguably the biggest winner from this signing.
Add us as a preferred source on Google