Drafted by Cowboys No. 23 pick - UCF Pass Rusher Malachi Lawrence

[Whirlwin]

With the speed he could play linebacker and cover

 

[Aven8]

I hope he's a starter

It won’t be hard on this D!

 

[HungryLion]

Even guys in the know will call Lawrence a reach...even if they won't admit it publicly. Geez. You pass up Bain AND Mesidor???

They passed up Bain for Downs. lol and Mesidor was gone before they picked at 23

 

[blueblood70]

With the speed he could play linebacker and cover

That is why they call it an outside linebacker OLB in this defense So maybe Parker had him on the list there was a lot of people out there before the draft said he might be one of the targets.. I don't anything about him at all but I'm gonna trust the new defensive coaching staff..

 

[ak47kaehu]

Cowboys are obsessed with specific names at certain positions......Ty's on the oline and Demarcus's or Lawrence's on the Dline....lol

 

[NumOneQB]

Even guys in the know will call Lawrence a reach...even if they won't admit it publicly. Geez. You pass up Bain AND Mesidor???

Bain would’ve cost way too much to move up to get. Cowboys need to draft LBer with their next pick.

 

[bewp7]

a lot of the cowboys guy was saying a lot of smoke about him at 20 so get him at 23 plus two 4th im sure cowboys are happy

i dont see any body sitting there that is a super exciting pick id rather take a solid edge prospect over a off ball like allen

 

[Teague31]

Even guys in the know will call Lawrence a reach...even if they won't admit it publicly. Geez. You pass up Bain AND Mesidor???

Both were gone at 23

 

[blueblood70]

a lot of the cowboys guy was saying a lot of smoke about him at 20 so get him at 23 plus two 4th im sure cowboys are happy

i dont see any body sitting there that is a super exciting pick

That is the best way to look at that You move down three spots picked up 2FOURS and still got a guy a lot of people thought they would draft So it is what it is it was either him or Faulk they both had a lot of chatter..

 

[Western]

 

[kramskoi]

He's not Taco so I don't know what you mean about Reach he may be a question mark but there are people that are gonna disagree with you just as much..

Feel free to disagree. Don't mind it. He's "not Taco" doesn't mean whole lot. Liability against the run, high missed tackle rate, third down and 10+ pass rush guy. Stop drafting "traits" and draft "proof of concept".

 

[Doomsday101]

I like what I see in scouting reports but not as familiar with him as Faulk. Look forward to seeing what he can do to boost pass rush. Welcome to the Cowboys young man

 

[CT Dal Fan]

Did they want Mesidor or was Lawrence the pick all along?

Word is they fell in love with Lawrence at the combine.

 

[HungryLion]

Feel free to disagree. Don't mind it. He's "not Taco" doesn't mean whole lot. Liability against the run, high missed tackle rate, third down and 10+ pass rush guy.

Any player you take at this spot has warts.

All the elite players are gone. The cowboys got one of them thankfully.

 

[kskboys]

No complaints ........ great first round by the hated Jerry and son.

I am shocked.

Yup. Great picks.

 

[Xizor]

I like the pick. And Lawrence is a legite 1st round talent. Dallas needed 2 impact defenders with 1st round talent and got them both. He can rush the passer and that’s exactly what Dallas needed.

This is true but we are a 3-4 now. He is going to have to drop in coverage sometimes. He wasn't dropped much in college but think he has the athleticism to do it though.

 

[kskboys]

Even guys in the know will call Lawrence a reach...even if they won't admit it publicly. Geez. You pass up Bain AND Mesidor???

Oh,IDK, I don't think so.

 

[SuspectCorner]

Both were gone at 23

The original pick was 20

 

[stilltheguru]

From McGinn anonymous scouts interviews:

MALACHI LAWRENCE, Central Florida (6-4 ½, 253, 4.51, 3): Redshirted in 2021, played briefly in three games in ’22 and started in 2023-’25. “He’s a guy with a lot of ability, and he showed up at the combine,” one scout said. “He has talent. He ran 4.51. He has traits and pretty decent production.” His 40 was the fastest among the edges. His vertical jump of 40 paced the top 20 edges. “He tested really, really well and ran fast,” said a second scout. “He’s a little more finesse. Lacks core strength, but a good player.” Finished with 72 tackles (28 for loss), 20 sacks, three forced fumbles and five batted passes. “He worked out well at the combine and now people are trying to make something of him,” a third scout said. “He’s a fifth-year senior who’s still raw and not productive. Hit or miss type. He ran fast, and you see a little of that in his getoff. But just overall he doesn’t have great instincts. He doesn’t play the run well. Not very strong bending and breaking with pass-rush stuff.” Arms were 33 5/8, hands were 9 ¼. “Inconsistent motor,” a fourth scout said. “When it’s third and 10 and he knows it’s pass he can get off the ball pretty good. If it’s first and 10 he kind of comes off slow, soft. Not real tough and physical setting the point. More of a fifth-fourth round project.” From Louisville, Ky.

The worst thing ever is this anonymous tough guy stuff.

 

[aikemirv]

Word is they fell in love with Lawrence at the combine.

They have his coach last year on staff-I don’t think it was the combine