Just weeks after hearing the rookie's name on draft night, Malachi Lawrence has taken another major step in his NFL career by signing his rookie contract with Dallas, ensuring the talented edge rusher is ready to focus on football.

Malachi was selected with the No. 23 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft and signed a four-year rookie deal worth $20.22 million with Dallas.

The franchise has signed all draftees, Caleb Downs(S), Devin Moore, a cornerback, LT Overton (DE), and Anthony Smith(WR), with the undrafted free agent class, according to DallasCowboys.com.

"Malachi Lawrence signs rookie deal with Cowboys," said Tommy Yarrish of DallasCowboys.com.

By sealing the contract before training camp, Lawrence can focus on learning the defensive system, building chemistry with teammates, and preparing for what the Cowboys hope will be an impactful rookie campaign.

Lawrence entered the NFL after a great college career at UCF (University of Central Florida), where he became one of the top pass rushers in the country.

During his collegiate career, Lawrence recorded 20 sacks and earned First-Team All-Big 12 honors. He played a total of 39 games with 72 tackles, 28 tackles for loss, 20 sacks, and 3 forced fumbles.

The Cowboys signed him to make their defense strong, which had major changes this offseason. He is expected to compete for immediate snaps.

His ability to pressure QBs could earn him larger roles, especially when he has already gained the head coach's attention at OTAs.

Brian Schottenheimer Praises Malachi Lawrence's Performance at the OTAs

The Cowboys' head coach, Brian Schottenheimer, was impressed by the pass rush unit, specifically Lawrence. Lawrence entered Dallas with high expectations, but his ability to learn the defensive scheme and execute has advanced with growth.

"Malachi Lawrence is picking it up really, really quickly, and we're very excited about that," Schottenheimer said. "I think some of the best pass-rushing teams that I know we face don't necessarily have one guy. It's easier to shut one guy down."

Schottenheimer also stressed that Dallas is focused on building a versatile pass-rushing unit rather than depending on a single defender. He mentioned how Lawrence could become part of the collective effort that keeps opposing offenses from focusing protection on just one edge rusher.

What are your views on Malachi Lawrence? Let us know in the comments!

You can read more at the Dallas Cowboys Community!

Written by

Hetal Moleshri

Edited by

Zaid Quraishi