As the month of March continues and all 32 NFL franchises look ahead to the 2026 NFL Draft, the Chicago Bears will have four picks in the top-100, including two in the second round, providing the front office with plenty of opportunities to add long-term building blocks on defense who fit Dennis Allen's scheme.
After not adding an edge rusher in free agency, the Bears could use one of their top-100 selections on an edge rusher to pair with veteran Montez Sweat and third-year player Austin Booker. One name who should really intrigue Chicago is University of Central Florida edge rusher Malachi Lawrence, a player who's become a key face of the Knights defense over the last two seasons.
Let's get into our scouting report on Lawrence.
Malachi Lawrence, University of Central Florida, (6-foot-4, 253 pounds)
From his NFL.com draft profile via Lance Zierlein:
"An NFL-caliber edge rusher with prototypical size and length, Lawrence moves with the suddenness of a smaller player. Explosive get-off and a deep bag of moves/counters fuel his pocket disruption. He can win inside or outside but his speed-to-power conversion is average. His hands are subtle but skilled to quickly unlock openings and his secondary rush. He closes with burst and has the motor to hound scrambling quarterbacks. The next level will bring better tackles and more quick-sets, which will test how well his production translates. He makes splash plays behind the line but must provide better consistency and discipline in run support. Lawrence is an ascending prospect with rush polish and pro traits that should be enticing for pressure-hungry defenses."
Film:
Strengths:
- Length, strength, and athleticism stick out immediately on film.
- Has a variety of pass rush moves at his disposal.
- Quickness is apparent on film.
- Explosive first step allows him to create pressure on every down.
- Will be effective on stunts, especially rushing up the B-gap.
- Production was consistent across the board throughout his college days.
Weaknesses:
- Still figuring out how to fully utilize his skillset.
- Needs to play with more discipline, especially as a run defender.
- Lacks the ability to set the edge and impose his will against offensive tackles.
- Has to get better at mirroring his eyes, hands, and feet as a run defender.
Does Lawrence fit the Bears defense?
From the Bears perspective, Lawrence checks all the boxes in terms of size, athleticism, and traits. While those three factors make him an enticing fit for the Bears defense, it's fair to wonder just how effective he'd be for Chicago as a rookie. While he projects to be a high-upside player who could develop into a solid edge rusher by his second or third season in the league, there are concerns about whether or not he can develop into a well-rounded prospect who can impact games as a run defender and pass rusher.
Conclusion:
Teams will view Lawrence's traits and high ceiling as being major reasons to gamble on him as a prospect. He likely ends up sneaking into the back half of the first round or hearing his name called as one of the top defenders off the board in round two.
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