The Dallas Cowboys made two additions to the defense on night one of the 2026 NFL Draft. With the No. 11 pick, they selected Ohio State safety Caleb Downs before selecting UCF edge Malachi Lawrence with the No. 23 pick.
Selecting an impact player like Downs was a big addition for a Cowboys' secondary which badly needed help. It is the addition of Lawrence, though, that could spell bad news for fellow defensive end Sam Williams.
The Cowboys brought Williams back on a one-year, $2.5 million deal for the 2026 season, but his time in the Lone Star State may be coming to an end sooner rather than later.
Malachi Lawrence Is Bad News for Sam Williams’ Future in Dallas
Williams was drafted in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft, but he wasn't a reliable disruptor for the Cowboys. Over 39 games (five starts), Williams finished with 85 total tackles, 20 QB hits, and 9.5 sacks. Unfortunately, though, Williams tore his ACL in 2024, which impacted his play last season.
He finished with a career low in sacks (1), despite playing in a career-high 474 defensive snaps. When you look at the depth chart at edge, Rashan Gary, Donovan Ezeiruaku, and Lawrence are slated to be ahead of Williams in terms of the pecking order.
Even if Williams stays through the 2026 season, there likely won't be room for him to stick around after that. Lawrence has tools that draft experts believe will translate to the next level.
NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah wrote, "Lawrence has ideal size, length, and twitch for his position. He explodes off the line and can rip through the outside arm of the offensive tackle before bursting toward the quarterback. He has shock in his hands to uproot and unnerve blockers... Overall, Lawrence is a dynamic talent with the upside to emerge as one of the better pass rushers in the draft class."
Meanwhile, The Athletic's Dane Brugler wrote, "Lawrence is a linear mover and lacks ideal bend, but he offers skill as a pass rusher, stack-shed toughness versus the run and the demeanor that will help him carve out a starting role at the next level."
The fact that two of the most respected draft experts in the industry have high hopes for Lawrence is noteworthy. The UCF product stands at 6'4" and weighs 270 pounds. In 39 collegiate games, he had 72 total tackles, 28 TFLs, and 20 sacks. He had two seasons with 10-plus sacks, showcasing his ability to take down the quarterback.
With Dallas being able to keep Lawrence under contract for five seasons, the Cowboys will give the rookie time to develop and maximize his skill set. Keeping Williams around for the long haul doesn't seem ideal, and would be another player who would eat into snaps for Lawrence.
The fact that the Cowboys selected Lawrence with a first-round pick shows how they felt about their pass-rushing options. And with Williams on a one-year deal, his time in Dallas is ticking away.
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