Going into training camp, the Dallas Cowboys have far more things to sort through than they did a year ago, and that's a good thing. Specifically, the defense has a lot of new faces, and first-year coordinator Christian Parker gets to figure out how to best deploy all of them.
On offense, there is going to be much of the same from last year. But that side of the ball won't be without position battles of its own, even if the likes of CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, Javonte Williams and Jake Ferguson have their starting spots etched in stone.
At tight end, the Cowboys are bringing quite the polarizing name into camp: UDFA Michael Trigg, who has a very specific avenue to finding himself on the roster. After originally being viewed as a lock to go on Day 3, Trigg didn't hear his name called, which had much to do with character concerns.
Now going into camp with Dallas, Trigg is looking at one guy ahead of him that he must beat, and that particular player happens to be a former second-round pick.
Michael Trigg has to prove himself in one area in order to steal a Cowboys roster spot
Ferguson is the clear-cut starter at tight end, with Brevyn Spann-Ford being the main blocker of the group. Cowboys 2023 second-round pick Luke Schoonmaker has kind of just hung around as a guy with draft pedigree, but still hasn't shown he has what it takes.
In fact, most Cowboys fans would toss Schoonmaker into the "bust" category at this point. And that's the guy Trigg is going to have to beat out, if the Cowboys plan to keep three tight ends on their initial 53-man roster, like they did last year.
Between Schoonmaker and Trigg, the Cowboys could have themselves another receiving option at the position. We'll get to Trigg's receiving prowess in a minute, but where he can really get the coaches' attention is if he is able to improve as a blocker.
Coming out of college, Trigg was not viewed as a good blocker by any stretch of the imagination. He doesn't have the strength or anchor to succeed there yet. But if he's done anything to improve in those areas over the offseason, that'll give him one more notch in his belt.
In today's NFL, teams are going much more toward multi-tight end sets and, specifically, 13 personnel (three tight ends on the field). For Trigg to be considered one of those, he must improve as a blocker. Brian Schottenheimer isn't going to put him out on the field as a potential extension of the offensive line unless he's able to hold his own.
Schoonmaker hasn't been anything special in this category, either, which is why that's truly a possible difference-making category to watch between these two.
In this roster battle, Trigg very well could come out and put on a show as a receiver. That's what he hangs his hat on. He has a ton of potential as an influential piece to an NFL passing game. In his last two seasons at Baylor, he averaged well over 13.0 yards per reception and acts essentially as a bigger wideout.
There is no question he can make plays in the passing game.
If Trigg can show any semblance of being a capable blocker, though, he could surprise and make the team.
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