NFL Draft: Malachi Lawrence for Saints' Edge Rusher Need

0:00It's March 27. This is NFL News Today, AI-powered stories from around the league. I'm Cory with the Story. The 2026 NFL Draft Class looks loaded at Edge Russia, which is great news for the New Orleans Saints. Many predict they'll grab one early to pair with Chase Young, maybe even at their projected eighth overall pick, with names like Arville Reese, Ruben, Bane Jr., or David Bailey in the mix. Meanwhile, talents like Malachi Lawrence from Central Florida could slide to day two. The Saints return Crawl Granderson and Chris Rump, but 15-year veteran Cameron Jordan is a free agent this off-season. Teens expect New Orleans to bolster the position regardless, either in Round 1 or later with a guy like Lawrence. Lawrence stands 6 feet 4 inches and weighs 253 pounds, with solid combine numbers, like a 4.5-240-yard dash, and a 40-inch vertical jump. He started slow at UCF after high school stints that tied in and linebacker, but broke

1:00out as a red shirt sophomore and captains senior year with, 7-sacks, 11 tackles for loss, and first team all Big 12 honors. His strength shine is a pass rusher, with explosive get off, quick closing speed, and a bag of moves to beat blockers. That said, he needs work on run defense, staying disciplined, and handling bigger linemen to become an every down player. You'll see Lawrence as a prime day to pick, who could thrive right away in a situational role, making him a smart target if the Saints pass on edge. In Round 1, his stand-up style fits their scheme perfectly, adding that needed disruption up front.