We are now less than a month away from the 2026 NFL Draft. The Bucs have made their major free agency moves, shoring up the floor of their roster in several areas. Now back to scouting prospects who might be available in the draft. Up next is Oklahoma edge rusher R Mason Thomas.

The defense has been the crux of my focus this offseason looking at multiple positions to find players who may be able to help Tampa Bay become a top-notch defense. The Bucs will need to find a running mate for Yaya Diaby and perhaps some additional depth. Previous edge scouting reports are as follows:

David Bailey, T.J. Parker, Rueben Bain Jr., Akheem Mesidor, Cashius Howell, R Mason Thomas

Malachi Lawrence Background and College Career

Malachi Lawrence was a three-star recruit in the 2021 recruiting class. He was 109^th overall among defensive linemen and 10^th from the state of Kentucky. He committed to UCF in December of 2020 and redshirted his 2021 season.

He played on defense sparingly in 2022 before building his snap count to 368 in 2023 and over 450 snaps in 2024 and 2025. His highest sack total (7.5) came in 2023. He nearly matched that in 2025 with 7.0. The ½ play trade off between the two seasons was balanced by an inverse trade off in tackles for loss. He also had by far his most consistent pressure season (40 pressures and 17.5% pressure rate).

Lawrence finished his career in Orlando with 28.0 tackles for loss and 20.0 sacks to go along with 72 tackles, 3 forced fumbles and 5 passes defensed over 39 games.

Measurables

Per Mockdraftables:

Height – 6’4 (58^th percentile)
Weight – 253 lbs (25^th percentile)
Arm Length – 33.625” (56^th percentile)
Hand Size – 9.25” (14^th percentile)
40-yard dash – 4.52 seconds (95^th percentile)
10-yard split – 1.59 seconds (87^th percentile)
Vertical Jump – 40” (96^th percentile)
Broad Jump – 130” (97^th percentile)

Scouting Report

Games Watched: Baylor (2025), Cincinnati (2025), UNC (2025)

Athleticism

Lawrence has a fantastic frame for a modern-day edge. He can play in a three-point stance as a 4-3 end or as a stand-up outside linebacker as a 3-4 outside linebacker. He has the speed and fluidity to drop into coverage and contribute to modern-day NFL defenses. It should be noted that in 2025 UCF used him almost exclusively on the line, and even inside as a 4i rather than pushing him out or off the ball.

He has a strong lower half and core which gives him excellent explosivity. That could provide him with elite burst if his reaction and processing at the snap were better. His best wins are from his speed around the arc, which is well above average and his best physical trait. As he gets into his full rush his acceleration just doesn’t seem to have an end. This is supported in his 40-yard time ranking in a higher percentile than his 10-yard split.

UCF Edge Malachi Lawrence – Photo by: Mike Watters – IMAGN Images

That speed helps him chase down plays to the edge, where he can make up for a pocket that leaks to on the outside and quarterbacks break contain. What’s best about his speed profile is that he’s not just all gas, no brakes. He can modulate, which helps him throughout a full game and makes him more unpredictable. Tackles can’t learn his speed and cheat to beat him to spots. If they try and can gear down and counter inside or start a game running 75-80% and gear up later to get high-side wins in high-leverage spots.

His hips are functionally loose for the position, but he’s not going to get parallel consistently like some of his contemporaries. He prefers to flip them quickly than elongate them across multiple planes.

Those hips work well enough for him to change direction as he crosses face with a quick cross-over step. And at the last minute he can duck a shoulder to gain the corner.

Pass Rushing

Lawrence uses his hands better than most in this class. He’s comfortable stabbing and leveraging his 35” arms to keep tackles off his frame. He will also flash and pull the stab to help him gain the edge with high-side wins. He has strong hands to swat punches, and he will throw an exaggerated dip and rip.

pic.twitter.com/fpFFGCwKiS

— Josh Queipo (@JoshQueipo_NFL) April 3, 2026

He has plus, but not elite bend, but pairs that with strong leg drive and accelerates up the arc well. His closing speed is his best trait as a pass rusher. His burst off the line is solid, but inconsistent. He will mistime snaps and is generally a tick late in reacting and can add too many steps to the outset of his attack.

Lawrence is one of the few edge rushers in this class I have found who is comfortable executing a push-pull. He also hits his counters by crossing face with a smooth arm-over.

Malachi Lawrence (51) with sudden movement + a little bit of dip to run the arc past the RT. Love how he changes gears vs the RT & accelerates through his dip, and then closes down quickly on the QB towards the sideline

pic.twitter.com/B0pUPgEpx0

— Anthony Cover 1 (@Pro__Ant) March 21, 2026

My biggest concerns in this area of his game are that he will take advantage of lower competition, but he struggles against better opposition and power should be a bigger part of his game, but he looks reluctant to use it most of the time. It’s a shame too because when he does commit to winning with power it usually hits.

Run Fitting

Lawrence has all the tools needed to be an effective run defender. And he flashes those tools every so often. His long arms can keep linemen off his frame so he can diagnose and the play and get to the back. His strong lower half should allow him to anchor well enough for his frame. And his speed should help him hold up well laterally against wide zone. But ultimately it just looks like he’s not nearly as interested in being great in this area of the game as when he’s asked to get after the passer. He loses his violence here.

He likes to keep his eyes in the backfield, especially when asked to work to his inside and he is hard to fool with misdirection. His power-profile as a pass rusher evaporates when asked to hold his ground as a run defender. He struggles to set a hard edge.

Lawrence struggles to detach from blockers in the run game, which explains his low tackle and run stop rates (21^st and 48^th percentiles respectively).

He’s at his best as a run defender running loose on the backside of plays where he can identify a gap and explode through it behind the line and chase down the play from behind.

UCF EDGE Malachi Lawrence – Photo by: IMAGN Images – Patrick Breen

Coverage

Lawrence was rarely asked to drop into coverage, and I could not find any reps to have solid takes on his ability in this area. For the couple of reps I saw his athleticism played well enough, but he didn’t look super comfortable.

Best Traits

• Speed up the arc
• Pass rush plan

How Does He Fit The Bucs And Best Role

Lawrence has the one key trait the Bucs desperately need, which is talent as a pass rusher. He can win on the high-side and would complement the rest of the defensive front in how he wins. And unlike other players in this class, he has the size and strength at the point of attack to be a serviceable run defender, even if his play demeanor isn’t quite there right now. He can play all three downs, which is something Bucs head coach Todd Bowles values over an elite pass rusher who can’t play all three downs.

As noted earlier, Lawrence can play as a 3-4 outside linebacker as the Bucs run. But he’s probably best as a four-down-and-go defensive end. He is currently EDGE2 on my evaluation board, behind David Bailey. Lawrence is in my 3rd tier (4+ year starter) along with Rueben Bain Jr., R Mason Thomas, and Cashius Howell.