The Seattle Seahawks hosted UCF edge rusher Malachi Lawrence for a pre-draft visit this week. But NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reported the Seahawks weren’t the only NFC West team to do so.
“UCF edge Malachi Lawrence, a Daniel Jeremiah Top 50 prospect who ran a 4.52 40 at the Combine, is visiting the Colts, Seahawks and 49ers this week — three of 16 visits for him ahead of the NFL Draft,” wrote Garafolo on X.
“Significant work on Lawrence from clubs following his performance in Indy.”
Jeremiah ranked Lawrence as the No. 46 overall prospect on his latest 2026 NFL Draft big board.
NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein compared Lawrence to former Pro Bowl edge rusher Josh Sweat.
“An NFL-caliber edge rusher with prototypical size and length, Lawrence moves with the suddenness of a smaller player,” Zierlein wrote. “Explosive get-off and a deep bag of moves/counters fuel his pocket disruption.
“He makes splash plays behind the line but must provide better consistency and discipline in run support. Lawrence is an ascending prospect with rush polish and pro traits that should be enticing for pressure-hungry defenses.”
The Seahawks have one top 50 selection in the 2026 NFL Draft. That’s the No. 32 overall pick — the final choice of the first round.
In the second round, the Seahawks also own the final pick — No. 64 overall.
Barring trades, the 49ers will pick five selections in front of the Seahawks during the first round and six choices before Seattle in the second round.
How Edge Rusher Malachi Lawrence Could Fit With the Seahawks
GettyUCF edge rusher Malachi Lawrence is a potential top 50 draft pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
The Seahawks will bring back most of their Super Bowl roster. But they suffered a few key losses in free agency, including edge rusher Boye Mafe.
To replace Mafe, the team could make edge rusher a priority in either the first or second round.
If that’s the case during draft weekend, that likely puts Lawrence on the short list of possibilities for the Seahawks early in the 2026 NFL draft.
“Lawrence has ideal size, length and twitch for his position. He’s at his best rushing from a loose alignment off the edge,” Jeremiah wrote. “He explodes off the line and can rip through the outside arm of the offensive tackle before bursting toward the quarterback. He has shock in his hands to uproot and unnerve blockers.
“Overall, Lawrence is a dynamic talent with the upside to emerge as one of the better pass rushers in the draft class.”
Lawrence Visiting Lots of NFL Teams Before 2026 NFL Draft
GettyNFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reported UCF edge rusher Malachi Lawrence is visiting the Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers in pre-draft visits this week.
As is customary for a top draft prospect, Lawrence is getting interest from half the league.
So, the NFC West competition the Seahawks could face if they want to select Lawrence is pretty typical. It is a reminder, though, of how ironic the draft can be at times.
Lawrence could be the next fan favorite in the Pacific Northwest or he could become a hated rival. It all depends on how the draft board unfolds in two weeks.
Based on how Lawrence is ranked among the entire 2026 draft class, though, it’s worth wondering how the Seahawks could land him.
As the No. 46 overall prospect on Jeremiah’s big board, the first round will probably be too early for Seattle to target the edge rusher. However, Lawrence could be well gone by No. 64 overall when the Seahawks pick again.
It might take a trade up or down for Lawrence to provide value to the Seahawks.
Seahawks Have NFC West Competition For 6-foot-4 ‘Explosive’ Edge Rusher