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NFL Analyst Says Malachi Lawrence’s Run Defense Woes Haven’t Gone Away in Dallas
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- NFL Analyst Says Malachi Lawrence’s Run Defense Woes Haven’t Gone Away in Dallas
Malachi Lawrence got the biggest workload of his rookie season in the Dallas Cowboys' 33-30 overtime loss to Arizona , playing 40 snaps. PFF analyst Dalton Wasserman noted in his midseason first-round grades that the same problem followed him onto the field, writing that Lawrence's woes in run defense continued.
The Cowboys mostly used the No. 23 pick in passing situations, and he had a hit and a hurry on 25 pass-rush snaps. On 11 run-defense snaps, he didn't record a tackle and finished with a 48.9 run-defense grade in Wasserman's review, his lowest mark in that area since Week 2.
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Malachi Lawrence's run defense ranks 101st among edges
Feb 26, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; UCF defensive lineman Malachi Lawrence (DL48) during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Over the full season, the gap between his two jobs is wide. Lawrence's 64.0 pass-rush grade ranks 50th among 110 edge defenders, according to his PFF page , but his 47.7 run-defense grade ranks 101st. He has nine pressures, including a sack, and only four defensive stops in 91 run-defense snaps.
That split explains why Dallas keeps him in a situational role. Rashan Gary played 50 snaps on Sunday and Donovan Ezeiruaku 47, according to PFF, while Lawrence's 40 still mostly came on passing downs. Among 15 rookie edge rushers in Wasserman's rankings, Lawrence sits 11th.
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The run defense problem isn't his alone. The Cowboys gave up the lead in a 14-point collapse , and the analytics going into the game showed Dallas losing all six defensive matchups against Arizona. Quinnen Williams carried the front with seven pressures and two sacks, according to PFF, and was one of the winners in the loss .
The next test is a big one for any edge rusher who struggles against the run. The Cowboys visit Indianapolis on Sunday, and Jonathan Taylor is coming off a 42-7 loss after which he delivered a blunt warning about the Colts' direction. Taylor is the kind of back who will test whether Dallas can trust Lawrence on early downs.
At 3-5, Dallas needs more from every defender. The pass-rush numbers suggest that part of Lawrence's game is translating, and a rookie who can hold up on early downs would let the Cowboys keep him on the field instead of pulling him when the offense lines up to run.
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This story was originally published by Athlon on Nov 3, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
