Among the new names in Dallas’ rookie class, Malachi Lawrence deserves a closer look.
The early buzz from training camp has leaned toward the bigger headliners, but Lawrence has been building his own case. That matters with the Cowboys set to open preseason against the defending champion Seattle Seahawks in just over a week, when fans will finally get a first real look at this 2026 group.
Lawrence fits the mold of a disruptive edge presence. He brings a long frame, explosive closing burst off the edge, and a polished pass-rush toolbox for a player with his experience. The pass rush has been relatively quiet early in camp, but Lawrence has started stacking together stronger reps.
He has still been a bit hidden in the conversation because of rookies like Caleb Downs and Jaishawn Barham, but he’s made enough noise to warrant attention of his own. Before camp, head coach Brian Schottenheimer was already pointing to one area that stood out.
“I’ve been most pleasantly surprised by the instincts when he drops in coverage,” Schottenheimer said of Lawrence. “They didn’t drop him much at UCF, for the right reasons.”
That praise tracks with Lawrence’s athletic profile. The UCF product posted a near-perfect Relative Athletic Score, finishing at 9.95 out of 10, and that kind of movement skill gives Dallas options beyond just rushing the passer.
Schottenheimer has continued to like what he’s seen from the rookie throughout the offseason, and Jon Machota of The Athletic reported that the coach is encouraged by Lawrence’s overall work.
“But I like the way he’s tackled this offseason. I think he’s another guy that the talent is real. I don’t remember him making a lot of mistakes, and that’s a good thing,” Schottenheimer added.
For now, the focus shifts to what Lawrence can show in that first preseason game. With Dallas needing more from its pass rush, he should get a healthy dose of snaps against Seattle. If the early camp signs hold, Lawrence may end up being one of the quieter rookies in the class - and one of the most productive.
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