Andrew Buller-Russ
Entering the 2026 NFL Draft, many had their eyes set on the Dallas Cowboys, who started the weekend with the 12th and 20th overall picks in the first round. Some thought the Cowboys could even move up the draft board to secure an elite talent in the top 10 picks.
The Cowboys did end up moving around, sliding down from 10 to 11 and still securing a top prospect in Ohio State safety Caleb Downs. The Cowboys also slid down with their second pick, trading back with the Philadelphia Eagles before selecting UCF edge rusher Malachi Lawrence with the 23rd overall pick.
Overall, many were happy with what the Cowboys did, adding an impact safety who can control the secondary, and boosting a pass-rush group that was in desperate need. Yet, not everyone thought the Cowboys made the right decision.
Specifically, former Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban called the Lawrence selection a “reach.” Yet, that was a hot-mic moment that he perhaps didn’t think could be heard on-air. But it was.
Later, when asked to provide his analysis when cameras were tuned in on him, Saban strangely had a different opinion, calling Lawrence a “sleeper.”
“Actually, this guy was one of my sleepers for tomorrow,” Saban said. “But he is a good player. . . . This guy is a good player. I thought he was someone that was getting overlooked in the draft, but obviously the Cowboys didn’t overlook him.”
"This is a reach" 😬 pic.twitter.com/60zloMY8nq
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) April 24, 2026
Lawrence was widely projected to be a second-round pick, though some analysts believed he had a chance to sneak into the back half of the first round. As we saw, all it takes is one team to fall in love with a prospect, and that’s clearly what happened in Dallas with Lawrence.
Related: 6 Best 2026 NFL Draft Classes, including Bills and Browns
