The 2026 NFL Draft is now only about a week away. There’s been a lot of speculation and rumors the Dallas Cowboys are a team to watch in regards to trading into the Top 10 with either the Arizona Cardinals (3), Cleveland Browns (6), and the Kansas City Chiefs (9). And, true or not, it’s believed the Cowboys are looking to trade up for Texas Tech Edge David Bailey.
David Bailey is expected to be a Top 5 selection, meaning the Cowboys would likely have to trade up to No. 3 with the Cardinals in order
to secure his services. To do that, it’s going to cost Dallas both of their first-round picks (12, 20) and maybe even their third-rounder this year as well. That’s a hefty price and three potential starters they’d be giving up for just one player.
Is it worth it?
As good as David Bailey is and is expected to be, giving up so much draft capital to acquire him via trade is a tough pill to swallow. That’s especially true when there’s a player eerily similar to him the Cowboys could draft at No. 20 or in a slight trade down scenario. That player is none other than UCF Edge Malachi Lawrence, someone may have shown an interest in as well.
Let’s take a look at how both David Bailey and Malachi Lawrence are close to a mirror image of one another.
Combine Measurements
As you can see from their measurements from the combine as well as their testing numbers, both David Bailey and Malachi Lawrence are nearly identical across the board. Standing one another in pads and helmet it might even be difficult to tell them apart. Going by these numbers, it makes more sense to forget about trading for Bailey in favor of Lawrence.
While the physical and athletic attributes matchup nearly identical between Bailey and Lawrence, we all know that doesn’t tell the whole story. The on-field production helps to complete the picture and in that regard Bailey has the advantage, or so it would seem.
In his one season at Texas Tech, Bailey accumulated 52 tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss, 14.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, and three passes defensed in 14 total games. He was part of one of the better defensive units in collegiate football last season, and as such, may or may not have benefited from the talent surrounding him.
Lawrence, on the other hand, played on the talent deprived defense at UCF in 2025, accumulating 28 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, seven sacks, two forced fumbles, and three passes defensed in 12 total games. Would his production had been even better had he been surrounded by the same talent Bailey was a Texas Tech? Maybe, maybe not.
David Bailey or Malachi Lawrence is an interesting debate and one only the Dallas Cowboys can answer. Based on where each player is projected to get drafted, it’s difficult to imagine giving up so much draft capital to trade up for Bailey with a similar player like Lawrence available for them in the latter part of the first-round or little later. But, these are the types of questions and player comparisons Dallas has to answer.
Where do you stand? Trade up using draft picks for Bailey, or stay put/trade down for some like Lawrence.
