Cowboys 2026 roster rundown: OLB Malachi Lawrence

Malachi Lawrence may be one of the most unheralded first-round picks in Cowboys history. With Caleb Downs drawing so much attention, Lawrence is flying under the radar as a rookie. But with likely a key role at a spotlight position on defense, Lawrence is sure to generate hype this August and hopefu

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What is the story about?

Malachi Lawrence may be one of the most unheralded first-round picks in Cowboys history. With Caleb Downs drawing so much attention, Lawrence is flying under the radar as a rookie. But with likely a key role at a spotlight position on defense, Lawrence is sure to generate hype this August and hopefully in the regular season.

Background

Years in NFL: 0
Acquired by: 2026 1st-round pick

Lawrence had a full five-year, redshirt run at Central Florida as a pass rusher. His career-high in sacks was 7.5 in 2023, but

last season he earned First-team All-Big 12 honors with seven sacks, 11 tackles for loss, three pass deflections, and two forced fumbles for the Knights. A strong showing at the scouting combine boosted his stock, pushing Lawrence into late first/early second-round consideration for the 2026 NFL Draft.

With two firsts last April, the Cowboys were poised for an exciting Thursday night. Coming off a dreadful defensive year, that was Dallas’ assumed focus for its rookie class. Improving the pass rush was also a top priority, with several scenarios that could have an edge player going at the 12th-overall pick. But as it turned out, blue-chip safety Caleb Downs fell out of the top 10 and was grabbed by the Cowboys after a quick move up to the 11th pick.

Twelve picks later, we were still celebrating the Downs pick by the time Dallas was back on the clock. With Downs helping the secondary, a pick for the front seven felt likely. Lawrence was among the top possibilities, though some thought it could be Auburn’s Keldric Faulk, or Clemson products Peter Woods or T.J. Parker. There were also a few intriguing offensive prospects like WRs KC Concepcion or Omar Cooper Jr., or OT Caleb Lomu. But in a fitting use of a pick they obtained in the Micah Parsons trade, the Cowboys went with the pass rusher in Lawrence.

Contract Status

Years Left: 4
2026 Cap Hit: $3.68 million

During the 2029 season, Dallas will likely have to make two fifth-year option decisions on Downs and Lawrence. Ultimately, it’s a nice problem to have if both guys turn into defensive leaders. We’ll also be at the end of Dak Prescott’s current contract, so it’s hard to project what the Cowboys’ salary cap landscape will be.

2026 Projections

Role: Rotation OLB
Roster Chance: 100%

We already know that Lawrence will have a big share in the pass-rushing rotation, even as a rookie. How Dallas divides the snaps between Lawrence, Rashan Gary, and Donovan Ezeiruaku is one of the big questions ahead of 2026. But they will all see plenty of work, hopefully with enough mutual success to be labeled a “three-headed monster” by the end of the season.

As far as starting jobs, Gary is the most likely for early-down work as a veteran and a run stopper. How Ezeiruaku and Lawrence perform in run defense will probably decide who gets the most starts between them. Last year, Ezeiruaku was surprisingly good there despite his size. Being a first-round pick won’t give Lawrence any extra consideration for starts or playing time, as Ezeiruaku has plenty of potential and long-term consideration as well.

While this top three feels pretty certain, we can’t dismiss guys like James Houston and Sam Williams, either. Lawrence is still a rookie and has plenty to learn, giving these veterans a chance to impress early and perhaps claim their own shares in the rotation. Though we’re rightfully concerned about whether or not there’s a true sack artist in this bunch, there are plenty of guys who could produce in a well-designed and executed defensive scheme.

Lawrence may not be getting the kind of fanfare that most first-round picks are accustomed to, but it’s all speculative in the offseason. If the rookie gets his flowers now and especially starting in September, it will be far more beneficial to him and the Cowboys going forward. In a year full of shiny new toys on defense, Lawrence will get every opportunity to show his stuff as one of the top newcomers.

Check out our previous player profiles from this series: