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Nick Saban Believes Dallas Cowboys Reached With First-Round Pick
TL;DR
Nick Saban criticized the Dallas Cowboys' first-round pick of Malachi Lawrence, calling it a reach. However, he later referred to Lawrence as a sleeper when on camera.
Key points
- Dallas Cowboys had the 12th and 20th overall picks in the draft
- They traded down to select Caleb Downs and Malachi Lawrence
- Nick Saban criticized the selection of Malachi Lawrence
- Saban later called Lawrence a 'sleeper' on camera
Mentioned in this story
Alabama Crimson Tide
Dallas CowboysPhiladelphia EaglesCaleb DownsMalachi Lawrence
Entering the 2026 NFL Draft, many had their eyes set on the Dallas Cowboys, who started the weekend with the 12th and 20th overall picks in the first round. Some thought the Cowboys could even move up the draft board to secure an elite talent in the top 10 picks.
The Cowboys did end up moving around, sliding down from 10 to 11 and still securing a top prospect in Ohio State safety Caleb Downs. The Cowboys also slid down with their second pick, trading back with the Philadelphia Eagles before selecting UCF edge rusher Malachi Lawrence with the 23rd overall pick.
Overall, many were happy with what the Cowboys did, adding an impact safety who can control the secondary, and boosting a pass-rush group that was in desperate need. Yet, not everyone thought the Cowboys made the right decision.
Specifically, former Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban called the Lawrence selection a “reach.” Yet, that was a hot-mic moment that he perhaps didn’t think could be heard on-air. But it was.
Later, when asked to provide his analysis when cameras were tuned in on him, Saban strangely had a different opinion, calling Lawrence a “sleeper.”
“Actually, this guy was one of my sleepers for tomorrow,” Saban said. “But he is a good player. . . . This guy is a good player. I thought he was someone that was getting overlooked in the draft, but obviously the Cowboys didn’t overlook him.”
Lawrence was widely projected to be a second-round pick, though some analysts believed he had a chance to sneak into the back half of the first round. As we saw, all it takes is one team to fall in love with a prospect, and that’s clearly what happened in Dallas with Lawrence.
Related: 6 Best 2026 NFL Draft Classes, including Bills and Browns
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Q&A
Why did Nick Saban call Malachi Lawrence a reach for the Cowboys?
Nick Saban labeled the selection of Malachi Lawrence as a reach during a hot-mic moment, suggesting he believed the Cowboys could have made a better choice.
What did Nick Saban say about Malachi Lawrence after the hot-mic incident?
After the incident, Nick Saban referred to Malachi Lawrence as a 'sleeper' when asked for his analysis on camera.
What were the Dallas Cowboys' first-round picks in the 2026 NFL Draft?
The Dallas Cowboys selected Ohio State safety Caleb Downs with the 11th pick and UCF edge rusher Malachi Lawrence with the 23rd pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.