FRISCO, Texas — Malachi Lawrence has the physical tools to reach double-digit sacks as a rookie, Dallas Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones said Tuesday on DLLS Sports.
Jones said the rookie class already looks like it has the opportunity to do some things this season.
“Malachi Lawrence has really got a chance to not only be a solid guy on the edge and be a pressure player for us, but he could make a difference,” Jones said. “He’s got the tools. He’s got it in his body to be a guy who could be a double-digit sack guy and really make a difference on the edge of the defense.”
Before training camp, Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer pointed to Lawrence’s instincts in coverage as the biggest surprise. UCF had not asked him to drop often.
How The Dallas Cowboys Drafted Malachi Lawrence
Dallas held two first-round picks in 2026, and Lawrence was the second one off the board. The Cowboys selected him 23rd overall out of UCF after trading down from No. 20 with the Philadelphia Eagles and picking up two fourth-rounders in the deal.
Dallas had acquired that No. 20 pick from Green Bay in the August 2025 trade that sent Micah Parsons to the Packers for two first-round selections and defensive tackle Kenny Clark. The Cowboys later used the other first-rounder from that return in the trade for Quinnen Williams.
Lawrence signed on June 5, the last of the seven-player class to reach an agreement. He wears No. 57. His Relative Athletic Score out of UCF was 9.95 out of 10.
Malachi Lawrence In The Preseason
Lawrence made 3 tackles in his first NFL game at Seattle. He started at outside linebacker against Arizona alongside James Houston, with Rashan Gary held out.
Lawrence made the initial 53-man roster along with Gary, Von Miller, Donovan Ezeiruaku, Houston, and Tyrus Wheat. Sam Williams, Dallas’ second-round pick in 2022, did not make the cut.
Cowboys defensive coordinator Christian Parker is installing a 3-4 front in his first year with the team.
Dallas begins the regular season Sept. 13 on the road against the New York Giants. NBC has the game from MetLife Stadium, with kickoff set for 7:20 p.m. CT.
