Cowboys Add DE Malachi Lawrence At 23

The Cowboys have now added two defenders in Round 1. Trading up for Caleb Downs, Dallas moved down three spots (via Philadelphia) and added Central Florida edge rusher Malachi Lawrence at No. 23.

Lawrence gained steam as the pre-draft process wore on, being named a player likely to be chosen earlier than expected. The Cowboys revealed post-draft they would have chosen Lawrence at No. 20 had they not found a trade-down partner.

Dallas moved down three spots from No. 20, sliding down via the Eagles. This marked the second time the Cowboys had traded down to allow the Eagles to vault up for a first-rounder since 2021, when Philly tabbed DeVonta Smith (and led Dallas to Micah Parsons two picks later). The Cowboys traded Parsons to the Packers in August, obtaining the No. 20 choice (along with a 2027 first-rounder). Dallas moved the ’27 first to the Jets for Quinnen Williams, highlighting the importance of Lawrence and Downs in this year’s first round.

Lawrence follows a host of early-round Cowboys edge rusher choices. After choosing Parsons in the 2021 first round, Dallas selected Sam Williams in the 2022 second round. The team then chose Marshawn Kneeland in the 2024 second round and Donovan Ezeiruaku in the ’25 second. Tragically, Kneeland died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in November.

The Cowboys also traded for Rashan Gary, doing so before re-signing Williams, this offseason. That duo joins Ezeiruaku and now Lawrence at OLB in new DC Christian Parker‘s 3-4 scheme. For all the heat Cowboys brass takes for contract timing and mismanagement, the team has done well to land first-round talent. The Cowboys have drafted eight first-team All-Pro players in the first round since 2010. After trading one of their top 21st-century talents in Parsons, the Cowboys are banking on Downs and Lawrence injecting life into their porous defense.

Totaling 19.5 sacks over the past three seasons, Lawrence registered 27.5 tackles for loss in that span. The Cowboys were not one of the teams to use a “30” visit on Lawrence, who met with half the NFL before the draft. While Downs will be expected to become an instant starter, Lawrence will likely be brought along slower. But Dallas will expect starter work from the mid-major prospect early in his rookie contract, in all likelihood.