Cowboys' Malachi Lawrence: Set for increased opportunities
Rotowire
Lawrence is expected to get more opportunities on the Cowboys' defense moving forward, Jon Machota of The Athletic reports.
Lawrence was selected in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft by Dallas, but he has yet to play more than 43 percent of the defensive snaps in a contest this season. The linebacker notched his first career sack in Week 5, bringing down Buccaneers quarterback Jalon Daniels in the team's 24-16 loss to Tampa Bay on Thursday Night Football. Lawrence has compiled 12 total tackles (six solo), including 1.0 sacks, and a pass defensed over five contests so far in his rookie campaign.
... See More... See Less
Cowboys' Malachi Lawrence: Picked by Cowboys
Rotowire
The Cowboys selected Lawrence in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, 23rd overall.
After landing safety Caleb Downs with the 11th overall pick, the Cowboys continue to bolster their defense by adding Lawrence. The 6-foot-4, 253-pound edge rusher was one of the big winners at the combine, posting a 4.52-second 40-yard dash to go with a 40-inch vertical and 130-inch broad jump. Lawrence's explosive athleticism showed up in his UCF box score as well, producing 7.0 sacks and 11.0 tackles for loss as a senior in 2025, though the hope is that Lawrence's rare burst will allow him to make even more of a pass-rushing impact at the NFL level.
