Baylor's Michael Trigg Would Shake Up Minnesota's TE Room

In 2022, the Minnesota Vikings traded for T.J. Hockenson midseason, and the tight end position seemed set for the foreseeable future. However, entering next season, it feels more like an area where Minnesota has grown stagnant. The Vikings can level up their tight end room by drafting Michael Trigg out of Baylor.

Trigg is projected as a Day 2 or 3 draft pick, putting him in a prime position to be selected by the Vikings.

Like many modern college football players, Trigg spent time at several schools. He played at USC and Ole Miss before spending his last two seasons at Baylor, where he became a legitimate NFL prospect.

Trigg had 694 yards and six touchdowns last year. Those are big numbers for a tight end, but Trigg isn’t a typical tight end. He plays more like a large wide receiver in the slot, something the Vikings can use to their benefit.

Trigg also has some of the best hands in the draft and the physicality to back it up. His highlight reel consists of contested catch after contested catch.

Michael Trigg has a 6’4”, 240 lb. frame, massive for a tight end. That gives him the ability to high-point the ball at any part of the field.

Even when the play design doesn’t work, Trigg can bail his team out. In the clip below, Baylor tried running a fake wide receiver screen. The defense was not fooled, but Trigg still made the catch.

Trigg makes it look easy. He’s the type of playmaker the Vikings need to compete at the highest level.

Having this type of weapon at tight end is a huge asset that can allow for unique mismatches in the field. There aren’t too many defenders who can cover a tight end that large with such great receiving ability.

Trigg’s physicality down the field also stands out. He’s always fighting to get extra yards.

That extra effort is what you want to see from every player on the field.

Trigg would fit into Minnesota’s tight end room due to his unique skill set. Just as it’s beneficial to have a dedicated blocking tight end, many teams overlook the value of a tight end whose main value is receiving.

However, most tight ends who fall into the receiving category can also be effective blockers. Trigg is not, which is why he is not as high on many teams' draft boards.

Trigg is a good downfield blocker. However, he struggles to block near the line of scrimmage. If the Vikings draft him, they’ll need to scheme around that. Still, there’s plenty of upside elsewhere in Trigg’s skillset, such as his aforementioned receiving ability.

Trigg’s hands and fluid route-running allow him to be lined up anywhere in the field. Though he doesn’t have the speed to play receiver full-time, he’s constantly a threat because of how good he is at coming up with the ball.

Trigg has also received criticism for his poor vertical.

However, that doesn’t align with his primary attribute. It’s an instance where scouts are letting the combine metric override what’s in the field, a mistake we see time and again. Trigg can play, so don’t let a small test deter you from one of the best receiving tight ends in this year's draft class.

The Vikings can revitalize their stagnant tight end room by drafting a unique player like Michael Trigg. Scheming plays around him while still having the natural flow of their tight end room is a huge asset.