Malachi Lawrence: 49ers' Pass Rusher Prospect

0:00It's March 29th. This is NFL News Today Football coverage, powered by AI. The San Francisco 49ers have solid draft capital heading into 2026 and Ed rusher tops their needs list. UCF's Malachi Lauren stands out with his ideal size, long arms, explosion off the line, speed and quickness. Trades this scream high upside for NFL. Pass rushing. He's already flashing smart moves using that length. He needs polish on counters and finishing sacks, but the real test is run defense. Laurence hustles and shoots gaps well, yet lacks the lower body power to hold the edge, leading to some missed tackles and gaps getting blown open. Fans and scouts draw parallels to Eagles defender Josh Sweat, who entered the league raw, but with a non-stop motor and early pass rush tools. Sweat overcame injuries and grew into a reliable force, proving you can bet on athleticism and effort. Laurence slots perfectly in the San Francisco scheme, starting on passing downs like Bryce

1:01Huff did, then bulking up under coaches with tips from. Stars like Nick Bosa and Mikel Williams to become an every down beast. Mott drafts peck him around the 43rd pick overall, while the 9ers hold 27th and 58th. Grabbing him at 27 might feel early amid his riser buzz, but waiting risks missing out, Mark Gamble or Reach, time will tell us the board, shakes up.