The Athletic Draft Grades: Caleb Downs A+, Malachi Lawrence C+

[Proof]

Lawrence was a "late riser," but folks have to keep remembering, this was an unusually thin draft in terms of blue-chip talent across the board which pushes the prospects up the board. I think corner, safety, and possibly receiver are the deepest positions. The Cowboys only had 12 first round grades which likely means most of the players taken in the backend of R1 they viewed as second and possibly third round graded players. At that point, you just gotta make sure you get the guy you want (Lawrence).

i'm happy regardless, but if they can put together a package to get into the meaty part of day 2 then i might be ecstatic. also re: lawrence, you going on record and banging the drum for him pre-draft made it a lot easier to get behind the pick. i'm always weary when guys start hyping someone up after we've drafted them.

 

[big dog cowboy]

CP got who he wanted in Lawrence.

That's good enough for me.

 

[calicowboy54]

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7212635/2026/04/23/nfl-draft-2026-grades-round-1/

Downs:
Pound for pound, Downs is the best player in the draft. Now, he’s also the 2026 draft’s best value in the draft. For Dallas, Downs marries need with best player available — it’s not just a win-win, but a win-win-win. He can cover most receivers, he’s a sure tackler, and he returns punts when needed (see his 92-yard touchdown return against Indiana in 2024).

Lawrence:
The Cowboys gave up the most passing yards in the NFL last year, so it makes sense they would allocate resources in the draft to make improvements. And there’s no problem in taking an edge rusher — Dallas had only 35 sacks in 2025. But is Lawrence the right pick or a reach?

i personally would have taken Allen or Rodriquez at 23. Bigger need and higher on most boards. but i understand the cowboys wanting him. so now we wait and see if we can trade back in to the 2nd for a LB or if we have to wait until 3rd round to reach for someone.

 

[charron]

You can easily say half of the players selected in round 1 are a reach. When Dallas made their board they calculated Lawrence as a guy that might be available later in the 1st that they wanted to take. Some teams were higher on mesidor or xyz player and that's ok, Dallas targeted this guy and they got him.

 

[jazzcat22]

Why aren't the Eagles being said the reached for a Lemon.

Dallas picks up 2 4th round picks, still got their guy in Lawrence. In which a few other teams wanted.
We fleeced them.

Remember what happened the last time we made a trade with Philly.

They took WR Smith, we got Micah. Any correlation to this? Can we go there ?

 

[ICP]

The grade on Lawrence seems to be the general consensus, his floor seems pretty low

 

[MarcusRock]

also re: lawrence, you going on record and banging the drum for him pre-draft made it a lot easier to get behind the pick.

Get a room, you two!

 

[Xizor]

Malachai Lawrence's biggest supporter was Christian Parker. Historically, letting our defensive coordinator pick the players has been disastrous. Maybe it'll work out better this time.

I don't watch enough college ball to have a true opinion on Lawrence. He has the measurables.

Yeah I didn't know a whole lot about him either especially since he played for UCF but I watched quite a bit of tape on him after the pick. You can see the tangibles. The quick first step, the multiple moves to get to the QB. The quickness. Even saw some of his bad plays and it wasn't mental it mostly was over pursuit. He is definitely raw but I think in the end that C rating won't be correct after proper coaching.

 

[cowboyfan4life2]

Should have stayed at 20 and taken messidor.

 

[conner01]

There were only about 12-15 players in this draft who received 1st round grades, so yeah, by definition players picked in the late 1st can be considered reaches.

Totally agree though there were players who were closer than lawrence but not necessarily filling the need. I wasn’t as excited about Lawrence as some. But we have a coach on the staff who really knows him. Parker I assume really liked him. I’m first to admit they know more than I. In 3 years we will know if it was a smart or not so smart a pick.

 

[Xizor]

 

[TNCowboy]

Yea, not sure I get the reach part(article comment).

Maybe if going off Feburary rankings for players, Lawrence would be a reach. But since the combine/pro-days it was leaking that he could be a consideration in the late 1st.

Maybe Dallas wanted to trade back a few spots to take him, they couldn't/didn't. Taking him at 23, 25 or 27 isn't that big of a difference.
And with no 2nd round pick, not like they could trade up if they took someone else at 20/23

I'd guess that Mesidor going at 22 scared them so that they were afraid to trade down again.

 

[darthseinfeld]

Lawrence was a "late riser," but folks have to keep remembering, this was an unusually thin draft in terms of blue-chip talent across the board which pushes the prospects up the board. I think corner, safety, and possibly receiver are the deepest positions. The Cowboys only had 12 first round grades which likely means most of the players taken in the backend of R1 they viewed as second and possibly third round graded players. At that point, you just gotta make sure you get the guy you want (Lawrence).

I think when you picking after 20, whoever you pick isnt going to be every pundits flavor. Hell I think dinged by some for taking Bryant in 2010

Im a Lawrence fan, but there are hits to make. I dont see a ruage worthy pick afterwards though. 9 picks later, Jeremiah Loves backup was picked

 

[exciter]

Yea, not sure I get the reach part(article comment).

Maybe if going off Feburary rankings for players, Lawrence would be a reach. But since the combine/pro-days it was leaking that he could be a consideration in the late 1st.

Maybe Dallas wanted to trade back a few spots to take him, they couldn't/didn't. Taking him at 23, 25 or 27 isn't that big of a difference.
And with no 2nd round pick, not like they could trade up if they took someone else at 20/23

Except he was projected as a late 3rd/4th round pick before the combine.
He didn't run the drills that focus on his biggest concern which is average bend.
As the analysts said last night... you try to add 10 pounds to his frame and hope he can be the strong side player DLaw was vs the run because his sack ceiling is in the 6-8 range!

 

[Ragin_Kage]

Love the Downs pick, and I'm glad they gave up a couple 5ths to ensure we got him.

Love trading back from 20 to 23 and getting additional picks (better than the picks we gave up for Downs)

Like the Lawrence pick, a position of need with a player projected to go about where he did.

 

[aikemirv]

if he was a reach fine - but high character guys with good motors are good bets!

 

[Carson]

I'd guess that Mesidor going at 22 scared them so that they were afraid to trade down again.

49ers wanted him at 27 and the Bills wanted him as well. If they moved down more they would have lost him

 

[thunderpimp91]

I think the grades are about right. Excellent value with downs, Lawrence is a developmental pick. I might bump it up to a B- just because I’m not sure there was an obvious pick that was great value at 20 sitting there. The talent difference between pick 20 and about pick 40 seems pretty negligible so a reach at 20 this year isn’t as bad as it would be most years.

Lawrence is a freak athlete that could very well make this grade look foolish a couple years from now….im just skeptical it translates into 2026 success.

 

[75boyz]

Cant say they dont have plenty of safeties now. Or defensive tackles either for that matter, lol.

But yeah, unless Lawrence has some kinda unexpected Micah type rookie impact he's just another Kneeland or EZ developmental project imo. His ceiling is more Dorance Armstrong and that's after 2 years or so.

jmo

 

[Bigrandrn]

Lawrence gets a C+ because he was drafted by Dallas

Buffalo at 26 and SF right behind them wanted him. But since we drafted him he’s a reach lol

If SF wanted him, then he was the right pick lol.