Nick Saban criticized the Cowboys' selection of UCF EDGE Malachi Lawrence with the No. 23 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, calling it a 'reach.' The Cowboys aimed to strengthen their defense after a poor season.
Key points
Nick Saban criticized Cowboys' pick of Malachi Lawrence.
Cowboys aimed to strengthen defense after poor performance.
Dallas selected two defensive players in the first round.
Malachi Lawrence was chosen with the No. 23 pick.
Cowboys dealt with lack of sacks after trading Micah Parsons.
Fresh off a campaign than saw the Cowboys surrender more yards and points than any other side in the league, the directive was clear for Dallas' front office ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft: get defenders and get a lot of them.
The Cowboys obliged, taking two defensive players in the first round. Caleb Downs was the headliner, adding star-power to a Cowboys secondary that looked ragged for much of the 2025 season. With Dallas' second pick, it sought an answer to the problems that have plagued its front seven since it dealt Micah Parsons: a lack of sacks.
The Cowboys selected UCF EDGE Malachi Lawrence with the No. 23 pick in the draft. Their decision proved a surprise for a great many evaluators, including former Alabama boss and current ESPN analyst Nick Saban.
Here's what you need to know about Saban's reaction to the Lawrence pick, one which figures to live on in infamy.
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Saban's assessment of the Lawrence pick was a little less rosy.
As ESPN's broadcast of the NFL Draft returned following a commercial break, a hot-mic captured Saban's reaction to Dallas' impending selection with the No. 23 pick. Social media was abuzz with intel ahead of the pick, with Saban receiving a tip that the Cowboys were taking Lawrence, who earned first-team All-Big 12 honors during his final year with the Golden Knights.
Saban appeared unconvinced by the pick, calling the decision to select Lawrence "a reach." Unfortunately for him and Lawrence, that message was captured on a hot-mic, broadcasting to audiences in the moments preceding Roger Goodell's announcement that Dallas had, indeed, taken Lawrence.
Saban was the only one to remark on Lawrence's draft position prior to Goodell's announcement. He offered a thoughtful assessment of Lawrence's talents when offering live analysis on the grade, labeling the UCF products as a talented player who he expected to dip into the second round.
"Actually, this guy was one of my sleepers for tomorrow," Saban said, garnering laughter from the rest of the panel. âBut he is a good playerâŠthis guy is a good player. I thought he was someone that was getting overlooked in the draft, but obviously the Cowboys didnât overlook him."
Saban wasn't the only analyst to peg Lawrence as a Day 2 selection. NFL Mock Draft Database, which aggregates various draft experts' projections, listed Lawrence as the No. 35 player in its big board and a projected second-round pick.
Lawrence got the last laugh, it seems, taking his place on a roster in desperate need of pass-rushing help. He'll fetch a pretty penny doing so, taking home more than $20 million over the course of his contract, according to Spotrac's rookie scale.
How good is Malachi Lawrence?
Lawrence was a late-riser on draft boards, with 16 sides inviting him to their facilities for pre-draft looks, according to NFL Network's Mike Garafolo. He was buoyed by scorching results at the combine, posting the second-best 40 time (4.52), 10-yard split (1.59), vertical jump (40 inches) and broad jump (10'10") of any EDGE in this year's class.
His Relative Athletic Score reflected his impressive athleticism; Lawrence posted a 9.94 RAS, the 13th-best mark of any defensive end since 1987.
Lawrence is twitchy and elusive, using his willow-like arms to displace blockers. He was a highly-productive college player, posting three consecutive seasons of at least five sacks.
Lawrence has his faults. His stance can be too upright and his discipline can waver. He has also underwent operations on both of his shoulders.
Nevertheless, the physical tools are enticing. If Lawrence can find some consistency with his technique, he could make a splash for Dallas in the years to come.
Malachi Lawrence college stats
Here's a look at Lawrence's numbers over the course of his collegiate career.
