Pick 23: Malachi Lawrence EDGE

I could argue that he's the best speed rusher in the class outside of Bailey. He's not as well rounded as guys like Bain or Mesidor, but he's probably a better fit as a 3-4 OLB.

He doesn't have the power of those guys but if you want someone to run around the outside shoulder of an OT and bend to the QB, Lawrence does it as good as anybody except Bailey.
 
He is a better fit than Bailey, though Bailey is a better overall prospect I think.

One area he seems to have an advantage is he’s still maturing and so it’s growth potential.

Christian Parker now has an opportunity to shape the DNA of young key players in EZ, Lawrence, Downs, Revel, and today and tomorrow’s draftees.
 
Simpleton said:
I could argue that he's the best speed rusher in the class outside of Bailey. He's not as well rounded as guys like Bain or Mesidor, but he's probably a better fit as a 3-4 OLB.

He doesn't have the power of those guys but if you want someone to run around the outside shoulder of an OT and bend to the QB, Lawrence does it as good as anybody except Bailey.
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I think real speed at OLBer is important to our team and to Parker. What I really like about Lawrence is he has that elite first step quickness. I think UCF used him a little too far inside sometimes. You watch him play and he isn't always lined up far outside. Sometimes it almost looks like they shaded him to the insode shoulder of the OT. I wonder what his numbers would have looked like playing in Texas Tech's defense for example.

We once had the Taco/Watt debate and now we can have the Faulk/Lawrence debate.
 
Simpleton said:
I could argue that he's the best speed rusher in the class outside of Bailey. He's not as well rounded as guys like Bain or Mesidor, but he's probably a better fit as a 3-4 OLB.

He doesn't have the power of those guys but if you want someone to run around the outside shoulder of an OT and bend to the QB, Lawrence does it as good as anybody except Bailey.
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That was my thing during this whole process. Bain Mesidor, even Bailey all the rushers in this class besides Reese were very thick and stocky that’s fine for a 43 defense but even in a 43 I prefer a lean edge speed rusher. These guys were all more like Brandon Graham.

Of the DeMarcus Ware Jason Taylor Charles Haley variety, Lawrence seems like the best player in this draft in that mold. Whether that is an elite player or not is another question but if you want a guy that can play 34 outside linebacker, this was probably the guy. Even Reese is almost more of a hybrid traditional linebacker.
 
NoDak said:
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He reminds me a lot of Bailey. Just such elite burst. He is on the OT's shoulder before the tackle can even get out of his stance half the time. He will eventually be viewed as the best pick in this draft, IMO.
 
Cotton said:
He reminds me a lot of Bailey. Just such elite burst. He is on the OT's shoulder before the tackle can even get out of his stance half the time. .
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Yep, this is what I wanted... The guy who when it's late in the game, you need a stop, it's third and six, the crowd is loud, and this guy gets a step on the OT before he even knows what's happened. Ez is a good technician but he'll never have that first step and raw speed.
 
Cotton said:
He reminds me a lot of Bailey. Just such elite burst. He is on the OT's shoulder before the tackle can even get out of his stance half the time. He will eventually be viewed as the best pick in this draft, IMO.
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It's kind of what I said yesterday in terms of, if you put Lawrence on that Texas Tech defense, I bet he would have put up killer numbers.

Bailey when he was at Stanford probably wasn't as good of a player as Lawrence. But one year in the right system with the right players around him, showed what Bailey is truly capable of. I think Lawrence has similar raw ability.

The way I look at is, worst case scenario I think he is a Josh Sweat (Another guy who was a freaky athlete at the same size) level player in the NFL with the potential to be an annual double digit sack guy.
 
Cowboysrock55 said:
It's kind of what I said yesterday in terms of, if you put Lawrence on that Texas Tech defense, I bet he would have put up killer numbers.

Bailey when he was at Stanford probably wasn't as good of a player as Lawrence. But one year in the right system with the right players around him, showed what Bailey is truly capable of. I think Lawrence has similar raw ability.
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Great point. If Bailey stays at Stanford, does he go #2 overall? If Lawrence goes to Miami or Alabama or Ohio St., how much better does he look?
 
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