2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report: TE Michael Trigg, Baylor

Name: Michael Trigg

Position: Tight End

School: Baylor University

Height/Weight: 6’4”, 245 lbs

Class: Redshirt Senior (2025 season)

Hometown: Tampa, FL

High School: Carrollwood Day High School

Recruiting Rank: 4-star recruit, top-300 nationally (247Sports), top TE prospect in Florida (2021 class)

Draft Projections (as of February 2026):

• ESPN (Mel Kiper Big Board, updated February 2026) → TE4

• Pro Football Network (PFSN Big Board, February 2026) → TE2

• PFF (Big Board, updated February 2026) → TE7, No. 190 overall

• NFL.com (prospect profile) → Day 2 projection, high-level backup/starter upside

• NFL Draft Buzz (profile) → TE7, late round

• Consensus (NFL Mock Draft Database, February 2026) → TE4-6, ~140 overall (Expected: 4th round, range 3rd-5th)

Career Background

A four-star recruit from Carrollwood Day High School in Tampa, Florida, Trigg began his career at USC before transferring to Ole Miss and then Baylor. After limited action early due to injuries and depth, he broke out at Baylor in 2024 with 30 receptions for 395 yards and 3 TDs, earning Second-Team All-Big 12 honors. In 2025, as a redshirt senior, he started 11 games and posted 50 receptions for 694 yards and 6 TDs, becoming a focal point in the passing game. He declared for the 2026 NFL Draft in January 2026 after a strong Senior Bowl week.

Career Stats

• 2022 (Freshman, USC) → Limited action

• 2023 (Sophomore, Ole Miss) → Limited action

• 2024 (RS Junior, Baylor) → 30 rec / 395 yds / 3 TDs

• 2025 (RS Senior, Baylor) → 50 rec / 694 yds / 6 TDs

• Career Totals (4 Seasons) → 108 rec / 1,419 yds / 14 TDs

Advanced Stats (2025):

• PFF Overall Offensive Grade → 72.4 (second-best on team)

• PFF Receiving Grade → 77.3

• QB RTG When Targeted → 98.8

• Receptions/Targets → 50/85 (58.8%)

• Contested Catch → 7 rec / 17 targ (41.2%)

• Drops → 7 (on 85 targets)

• Yards After Catch → 224 (4.5 per rec / ~32% of total yards)

• Missed Tackles Forced → 17 (strong YAC creator)

• Inline Rate → 27.2% (104 snaps) / Slot Heavy Usage (69.4%, 265 snaps)

Awards and Accolades

High School:

• 4-star recruit

College:

• Second-Team All-Big 12 (2024)

• First-Team All-Big 12 (2025)

• Biletnikoff Award Watch List (2025)

• Senior Bowl invite (2026)

Character and Leadership

Trigg is praised by coaches for his competitiveness and growth, with Baylor head coach Dave Aranda calling him a “mismatch” who brings intensity to the room. Teammates highlight his work ethic and positive influence, especially after multiple transfers. No major off-field issues reported, though a 2025 sideline incident with athletic director Mack Rhoades was investigated (no formal discipline resulted). He is viewed as a dedicated, high-character player with strong leadership potential.

Injuries

Trigg dealt with injuries at Ole Miss that limited his early production and caused him to miss time. At Baylor, he missed the final game of 2025 due to injury (shoulder/undisclosed) and had a shoulder bruise earlier in the season. He also missed the BYU game in 2024 and the Texas Bowl. Scouts note recurring soft-tissue concerns but no major surgeries. Full medical clearance at the Combine will be important for his stock.

Play Style

Trigg is a long, athletic move tight end who lines up all over the formation (slot, flex, inline). He wins with length, body control, and ball skills, creating mismatches against linebackers and safeties. He’s a reliable receiver with YAC ability and shows upside as a blocker in space. Fits modern spread offenses that use TEs as chess pieces; comps include Evan Engram (athleticism and route nuance) with shades of Isaiah Likely (YAC threat).

Strengths

1.  Athleticism & Length — Rare arm length and fluidity for the position; creates mismatches.

2.  YAC Ability — Vision and power after the catch turn short throws into big gains.

3.  Route Nuance — Sharp stems and adjustments; wins at the top of routes.

4.  Ball Skills — Natural hands catcher; extends and finishes outside frame.

5.  Positional Versatility — Lines up everywhere; forces defensive adjustments.

Weaknesses

1.  Blocking Refinement — Effective in space but needs work anchoring vs. bigger defenders.

2.  Consistency in Traffic — Can improve contested-catch rate under pressure.

3.  Release vs Press — Needs quicker feet to beat tight man coverage.

4.  Injury History — Multiple nagging issues; monitor durability.

5.  Scheme Fit — Best as move TE; less proven as traditional inline.

Final Evaluation

Michael Trigg is a high-upside move tight end in the 2026 class, blending athleticism, route savvy, and YAC ability into a mismatch weapon. Cross-referencing PFF, PFN, ESPN, NFL.com, and The 33rd Team shows consensus on his length and explosiveness as separators, with blocking refinement unlocking more. In modern NFL offenses that deploy TEs as chess pieces (think Engram/Likely hybrids), Trigg projects as a Day 2 starter who contributes immediately in sub-packages. He carries mid-to-late second-round value and could climb into the top 50 with a strong Combine.

Sources

• ESPN (Mel Kiper Big Board, prospect profiles)

• PFF (2025 grades from your CSV export, receiving analysis)

• Pro Football Network (Big Board, scouting reports)

• NFL.com (prospect profile, Lance Zierlein)

• NFL Draft Buzz (full profile)

• Baylor Athletics / Sports-Reference (bio, stats, accolades)

• The 33rd Team / Daft on Draft / A to Z Sports (detailed scouting reports)

• Local media (Waco Tribune-Herald, SicEm365) for character and injury context