There isn’t a more classic Green Bay Packers pick than Malachi Lawrence. The 6′ 4″, 250 lb. edge rusher out of UCF has a relative athletic score of 9.95/10, 13th out of all defensive ends since 1987. We know historically that Brian Gutekunst values athleticism and potential upside over all else, making Lawrence a clear candidate at the edge position.
After redshirting and spending his second year as a reserve at UCF, Malachi Lawrence recorded 19.5 sacks in his last three years, earning First-team All-Big 12 honors as a senior. Although he doesn’t blow you away on the stat sheet, his physical intangibles and obvious athletic upside will make up for it.
Lawrence recorded a 4.52-second 40-yard dash along with a 10’10’’ broad jump, both ranking in the 98th percentile for edge rushers. However, he struggles with run defending and wrapping up tackles, something the Packers value. Coming in at No. 44 on ESPN’s draft rankings, Lawrence has the potential to make an immediate impact on whichever squad he joins.
Lawrence is slightly undersized, but he plays with explosiveness and quickness. He has a plethora of moves to shake linemen and get after the cornerback, which he displayed most in his senior season. He also has plenty of burst to chase down scrambling quarterbacks once free. These traits lend themselves well to NFL football if developed correctly.
Lawrence has been steadily climbing draft boards after a dominant combine performance, and may not be available at pick 52. However, if he falls into Green Bay’s hands, it could be worth it to shore up the edge position before addressing other, more looming needs such as cornerback or defensive lineman.
A quick get-off and great closing speed are traits every team wants in a pure edge rusher, similar to what Micah Parsons specializes in. After the departure of the aging and seemingly slower Rashan Gary, Lawrence would be a welcome change and could even lead to a small trade-up if still on the board near the middle of the second round.
An edge group of Lukas Van Ness, Karl Brooks, and Barryn Sorrell isn’t exactly sufficient going into the 2026 season before Micah Parsons’ return. There will be plenty of cornerback options in later rounds, and a good enough pass rush can cover up a subpar secondary, as seen last season before Parsons went down.
It may be a stretch to expect Malachi Lawrence to be available even in the second round. Still, his Relative Athletic Score, combined with college experience, would make him a no-brainer for Brian Gutekunst, given a fall in the draft.
