March 19, 2026, 7:20 p.m. CT

The Unpacking Future Packers Countdown is a countdown of 100 prospects who the Green Bay Packers could select in the 2026 NFL draft.

A team can never have enough pass rushers and after the Green Bay Packers traded Rashan Gary and Kingsley Enagbare, they may look to add another pass rusher to the mix to join Lukas Van Ness, Barryn Sorrell, Collin Oliver, Brenton Cox Jr and eventually Micah Parsons.

A potential target with the 52nd overall pick is Malachi Lawrence. The University of Central Florida defensive end checks in at No. 41 in the Unpacking Future Packers Countdown.

As a redshirt freshman in 2022, Lawrence recorded a .5 sack. The following season, Lawrence recorded 10.5 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks. In 2024, he recorded six tackles for loss and five sacks. This past season, he recorded 11 tackles for loss and seven sacks.

Lawrence has an explosive first step, as evidenced by the 1.59 10-yard split he recorded at the NFL Scouting Combine. He builds off the explosive get-off and runs the arc with speed to close on the quarterback in a huggy. He combines his explosive movements with advanced hand usage and a detailed pass rush plan. To go along with his seven sacks, Lawrence also recorded 40 pressures this past season.

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“He’s so varied as a pass rusher and shows the ability to attack blockers in multiple ways,” Luke Easterling, an NFL Draft writer for Athlon Sports, said. “He’s obviously athletic, but he doesn’t just come flying at the opponent with pure athleticism and hoping to win every rep. He knows how to use his hands and uses polished technique to maximize those physical traits. That combo translated to a ton of production for him last year, and he’s still got room to grow.”

Lawrence is a power-packed player and can get pushed around against the run. That’s not to say he can’t occasionally set a firm edge, it’s just not something you’d file under strengths for Lawrence. If he were to land in Green Bay, he’d likely play limited snaps on first and second down early in his career. He did record a career-high 11 tackles for loss this past season to go along with 18 run stops.

“He does need to improve against the run,” Easterling said. “He can keep his pads too high when trying to set the edge, and his aggressiveness can run him out of the play at times. He’s a bit lean, which works against him when he tries to anchor, stack and shed. He’ll get stronger and more physical at the next level, and improving his patience, discipline, and read and react ability will help him develop as an every-down impact player.”

Lawrence put on a show at the combine. He clocked a 4.52 40-yard dash, which was the third-best time among defensive ends. His 1.59 10-yard split was the second-best mark in his position group. His vertical (40 inches) and broad jump (10-10) were both the second-best marks.

“The combine numbers definitely speak for themselves, but the film backs them up,” Easterling said. “He’s explosive off the ball, and has the building blocks of a scheme-versatile player who can hold his own in space. He’s sudden with all of his movements as a pass rusher, and uses his length to keep himself free.”

Fit with the Packers

The Packers find themselves in a precarious spot with their edge rusher group. If Parsons was healthy and ready to go, they’d maybe feel comfortable with the group they currently have.

With Parsons out for likely the first month of the season, they’ll have to rely on Van Ness and a pair of second-year players who were drafted on Day 3 and combined to play 237 snaps during their rookie seasons. Add in Brenton Cox Jr and it has the makings of a group that could use another body for good measure.

Given his athleticism and production, Lawrence could be a target for the Packers on Day 2 of the upcoming draft and he’d provide the pass rush with some juice.

“With a lot of prospects, you have to choose between a high floor and a high ceiling,” Easterling said. “That’s not the case with Lawrence. At worst, he’s a valuable situational rusher who can make a big impact right out of the gate with his pure athleticism and strong technical approach when getting to the quarterback. But if he improves as a run defender and adds some strength/power to his game, Lawrence could be a complete player who never comes off the field and camps out in opposing backfields.”

A team can never have enough talented pass rushers and while the Packers have more pressing needs at defensive tackle and cornerback, it’s never a bad thing to add players who have a penchant for getting after the quarterback. Don’t be surprised if the Packers draft Lawrence if he is still on the board when the Packers are on the clock in the second round.