The Cowboys have bolstered their pass rush room with Lawrence being selected at No. 23.
The Dallas Cowboys were already on cloud nine after taking Ohio State safety Caleb Downs at No. 11, and with their second first-round pick, the franchise selected UCF pass rusher Malachi Lawrence.
The Cowboys have, as expected, used their two first round picks on defensive players for Christian Parker, with safety and edge now taken care of.
Parker got his defensive chess piece in Downs, and now Lawrence comes to The Star looking to add some juice to the Dallas pass rush in 2026.
Coming off a year at UCF where he posted 11.0 tackles for loss and 7.0 sacks, he brings that level of production to the Cowboys. Although he does have room to improve, according to scouts.
According to scouts, Lawrence plays with a high motor and has a vast array of pass-rush moves to Parker's defense. Seen by many as one player who had been shooting up the draft boards over the past couple of weeks, Malachi now comes to Dallas looking to help spearhead what many hope is a defensive overhaul.
Coming to a defensive line room with Rashan Gary, Quinnen Williams, and Kenny Clark, Lawrence will have to find his place in Parker's system, but the Cowboys have to be happy with how this first round has played out.
Initially set to pick at No. 20, Dallas traded back with the Philadelphia Eagles and picked up two fourth-round picks plus a 2027 seventh-round pick, according to reports.
Dallas then stayed at No. 23 and took Lawrence.
One could say it has been a great draft night for the Cowboys as the franchise got Downs, who some view as one of the best players in the draft. They managed to get Lawrence while picking up additional draft capital, which will be beneficial in the later rounds.
Still without a second-round selection, the Cowboys do possess a third-round pick and now multiple fourth-round selections, so it will be fascinating to see how the franchise approaches the next couple of days.
But this first round? Cowboys Nation has to be happy with how things have played out.