There goes Mesidor

I wonder if we are getting calls

HELL OF A TRADE DALLAS pic.twitter.com/WqkUgbykST

— Tom Downey (@WhatGoingDowney) April 24, 2026

Avieon Terrell maybe? The Clemson CB

Kedrick Faulk is still there

I don't like Faulk but I think that is the pick

Maliki Lawrence from UCF....I'm down with that. That is a pass rusher

Draft Profile: Bio
Malachi Lawrence played outside linebacker and tight end at duPont Manual High School in Louisville, Kentucky, earning first-team all-district recognition as a senior. A three-star recruit who also medaled in the state shot put, he signed with UCF in 2021 and spent two years developing before seeing limited action in three games during his 2022 redshirt freshman campaign.

The 2023 season changed things. Lawrence started all 13 games as a redshirt sophomore, collecting 27 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, and 7.5 sacks to earn Honorable Mention All-Big 12 honors. He followed that with 11 appearances and 10 starts in 2024, adding five sacks and a strip-sack forced fumble at West Virginia.

Lawrence saved his best for 2025. He posted career highs of 11 tackles for loss, seven sacks, two forced fumbles, and three pass breakups to earn All-Big 12 First Team recognition. His best game came at Baylor, where he recorded seven tackles, three tackles for loss, and two sacks. He finished his UCF career with 20 sacks, 10th on the program's all-time list, and impressed throughout the East-West Shrine Bowl week.


Scouting Report: Strengths

• Deep rush plan with chops, swipes, rips, and inside counters that keeps tackles guessing.
• Hands work quickly to disengage and create secondary rush opportunities when initial moves stall.
• Natural hip flexibility lets him flatten his angle around the edge without losing speed.
• Explosive first step and closing burst create immediate pressure off the snap.
• Relentless effort in pursuit; chases quarterbacks out of the pocket and finishes on scrambles.
• Good length creates problems for tackles trying to get hands on him early.
• Combine testing confirmed rare explosiveness for the position across every measurable.

Scouting Report: Weaknesses

• Run defense is a real concern; gets washed out of his gap against power schemes.
• Struggles to anchor when offensive linemen get into his chest on double teams.
• Missed tackle rate is too high; needs to be more reliable as a finisher.
• Light frame raises questions about adding functional mass without losing his speed advantage.
• Assignment discipline lapses show up on tape, particularly against misdirection and play-action.

Scouting Report: Summary
Lawrence's NFL value starts and ends with his ability to rush the passer. The combination of top-end speed off the edge, a developed set of rush moves, and natural bend gives him a real path to winning in sub-packages at the next level. His pass rush production improved each year in college, and his best work came against Big 12 competition in 2025 when he consistently collapsed pockets with speed and hand technique. Defensive coordinators who run odd fronts or heavy sub-package looks will find a role for someone with his get-off and closing ability on obvious passing downs.

The question is whether he can grow beyond that situational role. Right now, his run defense and tackling are not where they need to be for a three-down player. He gives up ground against the run, and his frame is on the lean side for an every-snap edge defender. The missed tackles add up. A team that asks him to set the edge in base defense is going to be frustrated early on.

His year-one ceiling is a nickel and dime package rusher who can line up as a wide nine or reduce inside on third-and-long to create favorable one-on-ones against guards. If he adds ten pounds of functional weight without sacrificing his bend, there is a realistic path to 25-plus snaps per game by year two and an eventual role as a strong-side end in a four-down front. The athletic baseline is there for a six-to-eight sack ceiling once the body catches up to the toolkit.

Love it!

Caleb Downs on getting to play against his brother Josh in the NFL: "He's like, we play the Cowboys this year. I was like, you're gonna have a problem." #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/Jo5QaAhYqa

— Joe Smith (@joesmithwrites) April 24, 2026

Cant believe the draft is over until Saturday

Assassin said:

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Cant believe the draft is over until Saturday

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We have a 3rd round pick from SF which will be tomorrow.

BearForce said:

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Assassin said:

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Cant believe the draft is over until Saturday

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We have a 3rd round pick from SF which will be tomorrow.

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forgot about that

The Cowboys allowed 511 points - most in NFL and franchise history - and dedicated their two first-round picks in safety Caleb Downs and DE Malachi Lawrence.

Lawrence had seven sacks and 31 pressures in 2025 for UCF. And his 4.52-second 40 time was third among edges at the…

— Ed Werder (@WerderEdNFL) April 24, 2026

Demeitre Brim hired as assistant defensive line coach on Christian Parker's first defensive staff. After eight years in the collegiate ranks, he begins his NFL career with the Cowboys. https://t.co/MEBg0S60qo

— Ed Werder (@WerderEdNFL) April 24, 2026

Keldrick Faulk to Tennessee

Just thinking, Jets had three 1st rounders tonight including David Bailey. They later added Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq at No. 16 and traded up to select Indiana slot receiver Omar Cooper Jr. at No. 30,

Thats a nice draft. And they have 3 #1 picks next year including ours

Assassin said:

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Just thinking, Jets had three 1st rounders tonight including David Bailey. They later added Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq at No. 16 and traded up to select Indiana slot receiver Omar Cooper Jr. at No. 30,

Thats a nice draft. And they have 3 #1 picks next year including ours

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Yes, and they will still find a way to **** it up.

#Cowboys tried to trade back again after moving down to No. 23, but no dice, so they pulled the trigger on Lawrence.

the 49ers were heavily eyeing him at No. 27 (note the trade back once he was off the board). https://t.co/WGqUmENG4d

— Patrik [No C] Walker (@VoiceOfTheStar) April 24, 2026

I'm mad the cowboys got Caleb Downs… good pick yall

I hate that our Bears are a big part of his highlight film

If you want to love Malachi Lawrence, check that Baylor tape on his report I wrote. Dang.

— Bob Sturm (@SportsSturm) April 24, 2026

Welcome to Dallas pic.twitter.com/OxSNZum2Nv

— FergSZN (@FergSZN) April 24, 2026

Malachi Lawrence. I was told Christian Parker loved him. So that’s two solid defensive players and got some 4th rounders. Solid night for Dallas

— Jane Slater (@SlaterNFL) April 24, 2026

BigGameBaylorBear said:

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I'm mad the cowboys got Caleb Downs… good pick yall

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Lemon is gonna be a badass for you guys

Did you notice that in the history of the draft, the first round has been held on April 23 three times? And in those three years, the first pick for the @dallascowboys has been Troy Aikman (1989), DeMarcus Ware (2005) and CeeDee Lamb (2020)? Let's keep the streak going in 2026! pic.twitter.com/zdgmnW50uN

— Dallas Cowboys Star Magazine (@DCStarMagazine) April 23, 2026

Caleb Downs last game with Ohio State was at AT&T Stadium.

Caleb Downs first game as an NFL pro will be at AT&T Stadium.#DallasCowboys pic.twitter.com/FmH3lekNC6

— Brandon Loree (@Brandoniswrite) April 24, 2026

Assassin said:

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BigGameBaylorBear said:

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I'm mad the cowboys got Caleb Downs… good pick yall

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Lemon is gonna be a badass for you guys

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Yeah

Biggest Makai Lemon red flag is that he would scare all the hoes

Scariest combine interview ever pic.twitter.com/BFW2fxDMEh

— NYJ Matt (@NYJ_Matt) April 24, 2026

Yeah Makai Lemon IS A PSYCHO 😂🤣

His message to Philly fans:

“They gettin' a dawg."
pic.twitter.com/FIKjeRki9U

— Hater Report (@HaterReport) April 24, 2026

📝 Day 1 has concluded, and here are the #Cowboys remaining picks in the 2026 #NFLDraft:

92nd - 3
112th - 4
114th - 4 (from PHI)
137th- 4 (from PHI)
152nd - 5

there's some ammo there to try and get into the second round, if they so choose, thanks to the trade with the Eagles.

— Patrik [No C] Walker (@VoiceOfTheStar) April 24, 2026

Our picks

92.
112.
114.
137.
152.
218.

Assassin said:

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Our picks

92.
112.
114.
137.
152.
218.

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We don't have 218 anymore

Edit: My bad, I guess we still do have 218

The Dallas Cowboys’ remaining picks in this year’s draft:

3rd round: No. 92 overall
4th round: No. 112 overall
4th round: No. 114 overall
4th round: No. 137 overall
5th round: No. 152 overall
7th round: No. 218 overall

— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) April 24, 2026

My PFN mock draft

Here is where each of tonight's 1st round picks sat on @ArifHasanNFL's consensus big board at the time they were drafted. The grey line indicates the average "best available" rank from previous drafts. pic.twitter.com/flAEZ0y6gv

— Anthony Reinhard (@reinhardNFL) April 24, 2026

BearForce said:

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Here is where each of tonight's 1st round picks sat on @ArifHasanNFL's consensus big board at the time they were drafted. The grey line indicates the average "best available" rank from previous drafts. pic.twitter.com/flAEZ0y6gv

— Anthony Reinhard (@reinhardNFL) April 24, 2026

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They got some screwed up stuff there. Check out David Bailey being a reach at 2

Cowboys Executive Vice President Stephen Jones said Thursday after the first round of the draft that they have "zero intention" of trading WR George Pickens.

Man did we dodge a bullet...thank goodness we didn't even consider Vrabel.

Nah this is INSANE

“Mike Vrabel…YOU ARE THE FATHER” 😭💀 pic.twitter.com/OwRA6FtyYK

— Hater Report (@HaterReport) April 24, 2026

Downs was our top-rated defensive player for most of the season and much of the offseason but at this point we are splitting hairs about whether Downs is better or worse than Sonny Styles and Arvell Reese but in terms of versatility and a high ceiling, Downs can't be beat here. (at 11)

Not sure about 23, but we got the best player in the draft at 11...

https://draftwire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/draft/2026/04/23/live-2026-nfl-draft-grades-cowboys-select-ohio-state-s-caleb-downs/89758750007/

Josiah Trotter might be around at 93. Malik Muhammed, UT Cb also