Scientific grading method: Grading the Cowboys pick Malachi Lawrence

The Dallas Cowboys knew who they wanted with their second first-round pick this year, they just wanted to find a way to pull if off in a way that made sense. UCF’s Malachi Lawrence, 6-foot-4, 253-pounds, was one of best pure pass-rushers in the class. Explosive get-off, long arms and an arsenal of pass rush moves made him a draftnik darling to more than a few scouts.

Others weren’t quite so sure. They dinged Lawrence for his gap discipline and his halfhearted efforts against the run. Not surprisingly, his placement on draft boards reflected that.

Nationally, the pick has been graded as one might assume; high grades come from those who believe positive scouting reports while negative grades come from those who believe critical scouting reports. The only helpful way to really look at this pick is using the trusty Scientific Grading Method we use this time every year . Grading the decision-making process rather than just regurgitating the scouting reports lets us know how savvy of a selection Lawrence was for the Cowboys.

Looking at positional and surplus value, team need, scarcity of alternatives, risk, reward, and yes, consensus value, we can objectively assess pick No. 23. Malachi Lawrence is a smooth, efficient pass rusher from UCF who just went to the Cowboys with pick #23.