Every year the Dallas Cowboys do a great job of finding undrafted free agents (UDFA), and there’s always at least one guy from the UDFA’s who ends up making some noise.
That’s why I never skip past the Cowboys’ undrafted free agent signings. Yes, most of the guys are long shots, that’s just the business, but Dallas has found players this way before, and this group has a few names worth watching.
Here is who I think has a real shot, who feels like a practice squad guy, and who probably needs a monster camp to stay in the building.
DJ Rogers, TE, TCU
6’4”, 258 | 34 catches, 319 yards, 2 TD
DJ Rogers feels like a grind-it-out kind of tight end and nothing about the numbers scream future star, but that doesn’t mean he can’t hang around.
For him to stick around, he simply has to block, play special teams, and don’t mess up to much. That is how a player like him sticks around.
He will have a leg up on the undrafted free agent competition after signing with the Cowboys for $200,000, but I don’t see him stealing a roster spot unless he really pops in camp, but the practice squad is definitely in play.
Odds:
- 53-man: 10%
- Practice squad: 35%
- Cut: 55%
Michael Trigg, TE, Baylor
6’4”, 240 | 4.70 | 694 yards, 6 TD
Now this is an undrafted free agent who caught my attention.
Michael Trigg is the fun prospect because he is basically a supersized wide receiver with go-go gadget arms. He can move, win over the middle, and he gives you that mismatch type of player every offense is looking for.
The problem is he can’t block. If he can get at least decent in this area, he has a great shot to be something special.
I’m not calling him a lock, but he might be my favorite undrafted free agent in the group.
Odds:
- 53-man: 40%
- Practice squad: 40%
- Cut: 20%
Jordan Hudson WR, SMU
6’1”, 191 | 4.58 | 61 catches, 766 yards, 6 TD
Jordan Hudson is another one I would keep my eye on.
He is not a burner, but he is a smooth operator. Some receivers just look comfortable running routes, and Hudson gives off those vibes if you have watched him play.
The Cowboys receiver room is not lacking talent, but there should always be competition at the bottom of the depth chart. If Jordan Hudson can play special teams and be reliable in the preseason, he can make things interesting for players like Jonathan Mingo.
This is a legit WR5/WR6 battle guy for me.
Odds:
- 53-man: 35%
- Practice Squad: 40%
- Cut: 25%
Camden Brown, WR, Georgia Southern
6’2”, 200 | 4.66 | 65 catches, 1,079 yards, 14 TD
I’ll give it to Camden Brown, his production lepas off the page.
Over 1,000 yards and 14 touchdowns is not an easy feat. The guy clearly knows how to find the ball and get in the end zone.
However, the NFL is a different beast. If you’re not separating on routes, contested catches get a lot harder when the DBs are grown men.
Camden Brown will need splash plays in camp and the preseason. He needs some of those “Who is this guy?” moments to make the team after being an undrafted free agent.
Odds:
- 53-man: 15%
- Practice squad: 35%
- Cut: 50%
Kelvin Gilliam, DT, Virginia Tech
6’2”, 296 | 4.76 | 34 Bench Reps
Kelvin Gilliam is a sneaky one in this undrafted free agent class.
Nobody gets fired up about a rotational defensive tackle signing, but these are the type of guys you need when the season starts beating people up.
The 34 bench reps stand out and shows he has some power, and the 4.76 forty shows he has some juice.
I’m not saying he makes the 53, but I wouldn’t brush him off either.
Odds:
- 53-man: 30%
- Practice squad: 35%
- Cut: 35%
Tommy Dunn Jr., DT, Kansas
6’3”, 305 | 64 tackles, 10.0 TFL, 4.5 sacks
Tommy Dunn Jr. is another interior line piece, and I like the fit.
He’s not just a space-eater. The 10.0 tackles for loss jumps out because that tells me he can create some mess behind the line, not just sit there and absorb blocks.
Dallas needed more real competition inside, and Dunn gives them that. He’ll have to stand out in a crowded group, but if he flashes as a run defender and backfield disruptor, he has a shot at hanging around.
Dominic Richardson, RB, Tulsa
6’0”, 210 | 1,065 rushing yards, 5 TD
Dominic Richardson is a tough runner. He is not here to dance around and look cute, he is looking to get downhill and hit someone.
Being a running back and an undrafted free agent is brutal, unless you’re popping off big runs or covering kicks, it’s hard to make the team.
For him, special teams is everything. If he can show some value there, he has a chance to make the team.
We all know Dallas is pretty good at developing undrafted free agent of running backs.
Odds:
- 53-man: 20%
- Practice squad: 35%
- Cut: 45%
Sidney Fugar, OT, Baylor
6’5”, 343 | 5.32 | 23 reps
Sidney Fugar feels like a Cowboys offensive line project, and I like it.
He’s huge, he’s experienced, and Dallas loves taking big linemen and trying to turn them into useful depth. That has been their thing forever.
I don’t think he is ready right now, but I can see the Cowboys wanting to stash and develop him.
He might be one of the better bets to stick around out of the undrafted free agents.
Odds:
- 53-man: 35%
- Practice Squad: 40%
- Cut: 25%
Shiyazh Pete, OT, Kentucky
6’8”, 309
Shiyazh Pete is all projection in this undrafted free agent class.
At 6’8”, he looks like what NFL teams want at the tackle position, but being tall is a gift and a problem. If your leverage gets bad, NFL edge rushers will put you in a blender.
This feels like a practice squad swing.
Let him live the Dallas Cowboys weight room, clean up the technique, and see what happens.
His bio has me wanting him on the team. How many Native Americans do you know of in the NFL?
Odds:
- 53-man: 15%
- Practice squad: 45%
- Cut: 40%
Three Players Have A Legit Shot
The three undrafted free agents I’m watching the closest are Michael Trigg, Jordan Hudson, and Sidney Fugar.
Trigg has tremendous upside, Hudson has the cleanest path if he plays special teams, and Fugar just feels like one of those Cowboys lineman they may not want to let walk.
If I’m betting on one guy to become the fan-favorite camp name?
Give me Michael Trigg.
Big body, receiving upside, and just enough juice.
The guy I’m pulling for is Shiyazh Pete, but Trigg seems like the most logical one to make the team.
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