OXNARD, Calif. — Malachi Lawrence made 3 tackles in his first NFL game. The veterans in his position room spent Monday talking about what he does the day after he gets something wrong.
Rashan Gary is in his eighth NFL season and arrived in Dallas by trade this offseason. He has been next to Lawrence in the outside linebacker room since April.
“His confidence, his belief that he could beat the guy across from him, and him being consistent in his technique,” Gary said of Lawrence. “[Lawrence] at this point of camp, he understands what he needs to do to beat the offensive lineman, what he needs to do to get in great position in the run, in pass, and just making sure that he’s pushing to be consistent. But all I’ve been seeing is daily growth, man. And when he has made one mistake, he’s been next day coming in and not making the same mistake. So he’s been getting better and better every day. So I just really can’t wait for the season.”
Malachi Lawrence Asks The Questions
Gary was the 12th overall pick in 2019 and went through his own version of this in Green Bay. He has 46.5 career sacks in 106 games and made the Pro Bowl in 2024.
“Just really the hunger, man. The hunger for the information,” Gary explained. “Not scared to ask the quote-unquote dumb questions. Even in practice, man, he feels like he could have been better at a rep, and watch him every play, so he’s coming to the sideline, where I could be better, then him going out next time and doing it, man.
“It’s great. It’s great for him. Kudos,” Gary continued. “But everything’s clicking at the right time for him.”
Lawrence played against the Seattle Seahawks on Saturday and finished with 3 tackles in the 17-7 win.
Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer said after the game that Lawrence had a couple of rushes that affected the quarterback. Two days later, after watching the film, he came back to him again.
“Malachi, I think, played really well,” Schottenheimer said. “We got them some work. I think that was great to see.”
The Room Malachi Lawrence Is In
Dallas agreed to terms with Von Miller on Sunday night, adding a 37-year-old with 138.5 career sacks to a group that already had Gary and Donovan Ezeiruaku.
Ezeiruaku said Miller told him he wants to be the DeMarcus Ware figure for both young edge rushers, the role Ware filled for Miller in Denver.
Schottenheimer named Lawrence first when asked what sold him on the signing.
“Let’s be honest, Malachi’s a young player,” Schottenheimer said. “Eazy’s still a young player. The influence, sitting in meetings with him and watching film, that’s really powerful.”
The group includes Sam Williams, Marist Liufau, James Houston, Tyrus Wheat, and Isaiah Land. Wheat shared a sack with Reddy Steward against Seattle, and Land recorded one on fourth down at the Dallas 15.
What Dallas Drafted
Dallas took Lawrence 23rd overall after trading the No. 20 pick to the Philadelphia Eagles, who selected USC receiver Makai Lemon. He is the fifth first-round pick in UCF history.
Lawrence spent five seasons there and improved in each of the last three. As a redshirt sophomore in 2023, he started all 13 games with 27 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, and 7.5 sacks. In 2024, he had 5 sacks and 15 tackles in 11 games. Last season, he started all 12 games with 28 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 7 sacks, 3 pass breakups, and 2 forced fumbles, and was first-team All-Big 12.
His 20 career sacks rank 10th in UCF history. He was one of a handful of FBS players with at least 5 sacks in each of the past three seasons.
At the combine, the 6-foot-4, 253-pound Lawrence ran a 4.52-second 40, jumped 40 inches, and broad jumped 10 feet, 10 inches. He is from DuPont Manual High School in Louisville, Kentucky, and turned 23 this summer.
Last season, Dallas gave up 511 points, the most in the NFL, and ranked 30th in yards allowed. To address this issue, the Cowboys used their first-round picks on Lawrence and safety Caleb Downs.
What Comes Next
Dallas will host the New Orleans Saints for a joint practice on Tuesday in Oxnard. This is the second joint session of camp, following the Los Angeles Rams‘ session on August 11.
The Cowboys will face the Arizona Cardinals on August 22 at 9 p.m. CT, followed by their final preseason game against New Orleans on August 28 at 7 p.m. CT at AT&T Stadium.
