The Cowboys have already gotten a clean look at what Caleb Downs can bring. Malachi Lawrence has been a little more gradual, but the first real signs of his upside are starting to show.
Lawrence entered camp as one of those late-rising prospects who usually need more time before the light really flips on. He’s still working to clean up a false step and figuring out how to beat NFL tackles, and that learning curve has been part of the early story. But over the past week, he’s begun to leave his mark.
That showed up again Tuesday in the joint practice with the New Orleans Saints, when the No. 23 overall pick ripped inside on Saints right tackle Taliese Fuaga and got to Tyler Shough for a sack. It was the kind of move that reminds you Lawrence can threaten blockers in more than one way.
The play mattered because it backed up a broader point: he can win inside and outside. Fuaga, the No. 14 overall pick in 2024, was left off balance when he gave Lawrence too much inside room while expecting the edge rush. Lawrence saw it and took it.
It wasn’t the first flash from the Central Florida product, either. He’s had several would-be sacks during the Cowboys’ time in Oxnard. Those plays against Dallas’ offense are one thing, but the bigger test has been showing it against another team in joint work and in preseason settings.
That’s where Lawrence’s preseason debut offered more encouragement. He was the Cowboys’ fourth-highest-graded defensive player with an 80.1 grade from Pro Football Focus, played 17 snaps, posted a 12.5 percent pressure rate, and added two defensive stops.
He also showed good discipline in contain when Jalen Milroe escaped the pocket, staying square and limiting the quarterback to a short gain before Milroe ran out of bounds. Lawrence was physical against the run, too.
It wasn’t spotless, though. On one scramble, he stayed disciplined in his chase. On another, he got too aggressive, took the inside shoulder without backside help, and opened the door for Milroe to break free for a first-down scramble.
That’s part of the process, and part of what the Cowboys are looking for right now. Lawrence is the kind of player who keeps asking the right questions and keeps pushing to improve.
The raw talent is obvious. The bigger picture is that it may take a little time before everything clicks, which is why the Von Miller signing matters so much.
With Miller likely to handle around 20 snaps per game, Lawrence doesn’t have to be forced into a bigger role before he’s ready. For now, the Cowboys have enough from camp to believe he can still matter in a complementary role while he keeps sharpening the rest of his game.
The ceiling is clear. Lawrence can become a monster off the edge. It’s just not going to happen overnight.
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Trevon Diggs Just Gave Cowboys Fans A Rival Reunion To Watch
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The reunion angle gets even more interesting because Stefon Diggs, his brother and now a Washington Commanders receiver, reposted the news and weighed in on the move. For Dallas fans, the storyline now stretches beyond the waiver wire and into familiar connections Trevon already has with Seattle coaches and players, setting up a new chapter that carries plenty of emotional and football stakes. [Read more 🡒]