In acquiring All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons last August, the Green Bay Packers sent 2026 and 2027 first-round picks to the Dallas Cowboys. The 2026 first rounder ended up becoming the 20th overall pick.
How did the Cowboys spend the pick on Thursday night?
Dallas first traded down, sending the 20th pick to the Philadelphia Eagles for the 23rd pick, 114th pick and 137th pick — allowing the Eagles to select USC receiver Makai Lemon at No. 20.
Three picks later, the Cowboys took edge rusher Malachi Lawrence at No. 23 overall.
Lawrence is 6-4, 253 pounds and ran the 40-yard dash in 4.52 seconds after producing 28 tackles for loss and 20.0 sacks over a 39-game career at UCF. He ranked as the 36th overall player and No. 7 overall edge rusher in the class for Dane Brugler of The Athletic.
From Brugler’s scouting report: “Overall, 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. Despite being an older player, he still has upside.”
The early return on the Parsons trade for Dallas: Kenny Clark, Malachi Lawrence at No. 23 overall and two currently unspent fourth-round picks (as a result of trading down from 20). The Cowboys will also have Green Bay’s first-round pick in the 2027 draft.
Earlier on Thursday night, the Cowboys took Ohio State safety Caleb Downs at No. 11 overall. Downs and Lawrence will help reshape the Dallas defense under former Packers assistant coach Christian Parker in 2026.
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Packers Cowboys Micah Parsons trade first round pick Malachi Lawrence