Buccaneers Nfl Draft Target: Edge Malachi Lawrence, Ucf

With the NFL Draft now less than a week away, it is getting down to crunch time for the front offices of NFL teams and in Tampa Bay is no different. The Buccaneers have a list of needs that they need to address but pass rusher might be at the top of that list. Luckily for Jason Licht and the rest of the front office, this draft offers a few unique options when it comes to the EDGE defenders. UCF’s Malachi Lawrence could be a pretty nice fit in red and pewter.

Malachi Lawrence’s Collegiate Career

Lawrence was an outside linebacker and tight end while playing for duPont Manual High School in Louisville, Kentucky. After doing some scout team work at the University of Central Florida and not appearing in many games, Lawrence would burst onto the scene as a redshirt sophomore, appearing in all 13 games and recording 7.5 sacks and with 10.5 tackles for loss for UCF. His junior season was solid again, appearing in 11 games and notching five sacks with six tackles for loss.

His redshirt senior season was a good one as he appeared in 12 games and had seven sacks as well as 11 tackles for loss. Lawrence was named All-Big 12 first team and was an honorable mention for Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year. Lawrence put together a consistent, really productive career for UCF.

Pro Day and Scouting Combine

Lawrence participated in the NFL Scouting Combine and ran the 40-yard dash in 4.52 seconds, an impressive number for someone with his size at 6-4, 253 pounds. He also recorded a 1.59 10-yard split as well as a 40-inch vertical jump and a 10’10” broad jump. His combine performance was so good that he decided not to participate in any drills at the UCF pro day.

What Lawrence can do for the Bucs in 2026

Malachi Lawrence could come in and provide the Bucs pass rush with a nice boost. He has good size for the NFL and Tampa Bay will appreciate his ability to not only get after the quarterback but be a solid run defender at the next level as the season goes on. When watching Lawrence and the way he wins his pass rush sets, it is similar to Yaya Diaby, who has been a bright spot on this Buccaneers defense over the past three seasons. Pairing Lawrence with Diaby along with free agent addition Al-Quadin Muhammad could give the Bucs pass rush room a nice mix of speed and power as well as veteran leadership with Muhammad and Diaby.

Lawrence likely would not be a starter instantly for the Bucs but like Diaby’s rookie season, he could get more snaps as the season goes on and eventually become a starter on Tampa Bay’s defense. Adding Lawrence would be a smart play for the Bucs for the 2026 season and long term.

Three Year Outlook

Speaking of long term, Lawrence offers solid upside. Three years from now, there is a real chance the Bucs have their long term pass rush duo in Lawrence and Diaby. Neither of them are undersized which is always a bonus and while neither of them may possess the potential to get double digit sacks each year, Lawrence and Diaby racking up 7-10 sacks each per year is not out of the question. It would finally give the Bucs a productive pass rush duo that they haven’t had since Jason Pierre-Paul and Shaq Barrett.

As Lawrence continues to develop his pass rush repertoire and get even stronger, he will be able to be a consistent positive on the Bucs defense. Also, three years from now he could very well be one of the leaders on the defense. He was a captain for UCF for multiple seasons, and his leadership traits will hopefully carry over to the NFL . In three seasons, Lawrence has a good chance to be a fan favorite both on and off the field.

Stock Report

Throughout the draft process, Lawrence has been widely considered a day two prospect but over the past couple of weeks his stock has risen. While it may not be likely, it would not be a shock if Lawrence found his way into the back of the first round. All it takes is for one team to really like a player to pull the trigger. It still is likely he ends up being an early/mid second round pick but if you hear his name called Thursday night, don’t be shocked.

On the clock…

Alright, the time to make a decision has come. Would you draft Malachi Lawrence? Would you be willing to even take him in the first round if necessary or wait until the second round? Let us know in the comment section below!