Cowboys linked to edge rusher Malachi Lawrence in draft buzz

The Dallas Cowboys may find themselves with a new edge rusher in the first round this Thursday, a lesser-known player with the potential to wreak havoc on offense. His name is Malachi Lawrence, and his connection to the Cowboys has been popping up in the media more and more over the past week. Not because they would be wiped out, but because they saw what Lawrence could bring to their charge.

Drafting Lawrence with the No. 12 pick is a bit of a luxury, but taking him with the No. 20 pick or even trading back and selecting him later in the round would be a good move for Dallas. The rising UCF upside has been surging up the media’s draft rankings, but draft scouts have been paying attention for quite some time.

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Lawrence, who is 6-foot-4 and 253 pounds, has drawn comparisons to former second-round pick Boye Mafe based on his size and field testing.

Lawrence will bring impressive pass-rushing skills as he is able to beat offensive linemen in a variety of moves. He’s also one of the most explosive rushers among the rest of the class with a 1.59 10-yard dash rating, and combined with his ability to flex at tackle, he’s a liability on pass rushes.

He’s also very capable defensively due to his long arms, which gives him the opportunity to get away from blockers and make plays on the football. His pairing with Rashan Gary and Donovan Ezeiruaku will provide a pass rush that opponents will struggle to deal with.

Former defensive end Chris Long and NFL draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah had plenty to say about Lawrence on his Green Light podcast.