'This Is A Reach' - Nick Saban Questions Cowboys' First-Round Pick Malachi Lawrence

Not every ESPN analyst is going to have praise for NFL draft picks. Though it's rare that you hear someone at the network outright scoff at a pick on live television. Then again, Nick Saban has ways done things his way...

College GameDay did their broadcast of the NFL Draft for ESPN last night with Saban on the set along with Rece Davis, Desmond Howard, Kirk Herbstreit and the rest of the crew. Despite having high praise for the Dallas Cowboys' No. 11 pick in Caleb Downs, he was less thrilled when the broadcast came out of break to announce their second pick.

Just before the Dallas Cowboys traded down and selected UCF edge rusher Malachi Lawrence with the No. 23 overall pick, Saban could be heard remarking, "This is a reach."

Once the pick was announced, Saban went back to what he said before and tried to explain himself.

"I hate to use that word, but this guy was actually one of my sleepers for tomorrow," Saban added, drawing a laugh from Desmond Howard.

On an island?

Saban seems to be pretty alone in the assessment of Lawrence being a reach as a pick. Lawrence was a stud at UCF, recording 28 tackles for loss and 20 sacks in 39 games and earning All-Big 12 honors in 2025.

Most of the analysts remarking on the pick have praised the Cowboys for getting someone who might have even been a top-10 pick had things shaken out differently.

"Oh baby Malachi Lawrence to the Cowboys. Pure pass rush skills he's a Top 10 pick. Gotta work on the other stuff. But that Dallas D really has a different look now," Chris Simms remarked on X.

"I love this fit for him... I love what the Dallas Cowboys have done tonight," ESPN's Peter Schrager said.

"Malachi Lawrence was a name who gained a ton of steam as a bona fide first rounder. Super productive and talented rusher who the Cowboys fell in love with. Nearly 6-5, 253 pounder as well," Jordan Schultz wrote.

Suffice it to say, Saban really seems to be all by himself with his opinion on Malachi Lawrence.

Only time will tell whether Lawrence lives up to his draft status or proves Saban correct.

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This story was originally published April 24, 2026 at 7:59 AM.