Motivated by going undrafted, Cowboys’ Michael Trigg hopes to make most of chance
Throughout the years, the Dallas Cowboys have found gems in the undrafted free agent ranks that have gone on to be superstars for the team. From Tony Romo to Drew Pearson to Cliff Harris and Nate Newton, Dallas has prided itself on finding the best talent that doesn’t hear their names called in the draft year-after-year.
In 2026, they’re hoping to hit on the same fortune. And considering Baylor tight end Michael Trigg received the most guaranteed money of all the undrafted players (tied with DJ Rogers out of TCU), the bank is on him.
A five-year player in the NCAA with previous stops at USC and Ole Miss, Trigg shined in his final season in Waco where he hauled in 50 receptions for 694 yards and six touchdowns. His jump-ball and contested-catch ability made him a dangerous weapon for the Bears offense, and it’s something that Dallas saw early on in the draft process.
“Going undrafted was definitely not part of the dream that I had for myself,” Trigg said. “It’s definitely humbling, it’s definitely motivating. Honestly, with the way everything went, it’s not good to harp on the bad. I’m just going to let it motivate me.”
During Trigg’s Pro Day, Cowboys tight ends coach Lunda Wells worked him out personally after taking him to dinner the night before. The two remained in contact throughout the draft process. When he went undrafted, the decision to sign with Dallas was an easy one for Trigg because of the relationship he had built with his new position coach.
“It played a lot,” he said. “Coach Wells showed me that he wanted me to be a part of his team and his room. Just really being hands-on during my Pro Day, even some of the drills that I went through [in rookie minicamp], I went through them at my Pro Day, so I was ahead of the game a bit.”
In a draft that saw 22 tight ends get drafted -- the most since 2002 -- Trigg never got that phone call. It’s a bit of a surprise considering he was thought of as a surefire day three prospect, but off-the-field concerns stemming from his days at his previous schools most likely played a role. At Baylor, he emphasized that he was able to get on the right track with the help of his quarterback, Sawyer Robertson.
“Honestly, it was about my early years at college at USC and Ole Miss, my immaturity stuff,” he said. “As you grow older, you get more mature. Just being around the right people, Sawyer Robertson and the other people at Baylor, really helped mold me into the person I am today.”
“Last year, me and Sawyer started doing bible study during the season. That led to us being closer, just understanding how he thinks and him understanding how I think. I would say that I’m more quiet, more reserved. But being in those small groups, it’s only about three people so you have to say something.”
That transformation off-the-field led to healthy production between the lines, as he hopes to carry that into his time with the Cowboys.
“I definitely plan on helping with that,” he said. “I know [Jake Ferguson] is doing a great job, [Brevyn] Spann-Ford, all of those other guys. But when I get that opportunity, I’m definitely going to make the most of it.”
