To get what you want, sometimes you have to break some of your unwritten rules. The Dallas Cowboys were living proof of it late in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft before selecting EDGE Malachi Lawrence out of UCF.

The Cowboys moved down from pick No. 20 overall, fulfilling one of their rumored objectives leading into Thursday night. The problem? They dealt the pick to their top division rival, the Philadelphia Eagles.

So why did they help the enemy? Let’s break down the pick and the trade and look into whether they won the deal or not.

Cowboys get something they lacked in Lawrence

With Lawrence, the Cowboys are getting and explosive and fast pass rusher to get after opposing quarterbacks. New defensive coordinator Christian Parker talked about affecting the quarterback being the most important thing on defense and now he gets some help.

Though Lawrence joins Rashan Gary and Donovan Ezeiruaku, his explosiveness will be what sets him apart. Ezeiruaku is more of a technician with plenty of moves in his pass rush toolbox. Rashan Gary will probably be the best run defender of the group.

But Lawrence will bring a different kind of juice to the table. His violence and explosiveness will likely make him an immediate contributor on obvious passing downs.

Malachi Lawrence scouting report

• Age: 22
• A to Z Sports Expected Draft Position: 51
• Career Projection: Eventual Good Starter

An aggressive and speedy pass rusher who developed many effective moves over his final two seasons in college. Lawrence plays a violent game off the edge and is always relentless against offensive tackles, whether in the run or pass game. He has lapses in his tackling that lead to some frustrating whiffs.

However, his length is perfect for making an impact at the next level. Lawrence had career highs of 11 tackles for loss, seven sacks, and two forced fumbles this past season.

Grading the pick

Lawrence will be a reach in the eyes of many but he was clearly high on the Cowboys’ board. They get the pass rusher they needed out of the first round and he brings a different build to the table to what’s already on the roster.

GRADE: B+

The Cowboys-Eagles trade details

• Cowboys get: Pick No. 23, No. 114 (fourth-round), No. 134 (fourth-round, compensatory pick)
• Eagles get: Pick No. 20

Grading the trade: Did the Cowboys win it?

Listen, Eagles GM Howie Roseman is known for winning deals, not losing them. But I’ve got to say, this is at minimum, a win-win. I’d call Dallas the early winner of the deal as getting two fourth rounders is massive for moving down three spots.

Especially considering Dallas had plenty of potential targets at No. 20. The Eagles ended up drafting WR Makai Lemon, who was an unlikely target for the Cowboys. Picking up a couple of fourth-round picks will help Dallas either throw more darts at the board or maybe even move up from the third round into the second, where they have no pick.

GRADE: A