The Dallas Cowboys officially kicked off rookie minicamp on Friday, and ahead of the first practice on the field at The Star, the team announced the signings of 11 undrafted free agents. While most UDFAs face long odds, this group arrives with noticeable intrigue—particularly at tight end—offering Dallas added depth and upside as it builds its roster.
The official list expands on the initial post-draft tracker, which had nine reported signings. The Cowboys ultimately added two more: DT D.J. Withers from Kansas and LB Langston Patterson. Here is the complete group of undrafted free agents now in camp:
- WR Camden Brown, Georgia Southern
- DT Tommy Dunn, Kansas
- T Sidney Fugar, Baylor
- DT Kelvin Gilliam, Virginia Tech
- WR Jordan Hudson, SMU
- LB Langston Patterson
- OT Shiyazh Pete, Kentucky
- RB Dominic Richardson, Tulsa
- TE D.J. Rogers, TCU
- TE Michael Trigg, Baylor
- DT D.J. Withers, Kansas
In addition to the UDFA announcements, the Cowboys confirmed they have signed six of their seven 2026 NFL Draft picks to rookie contracts before minicamp began. The lone unsigned player is edge rusher Malachi Lawrence. According to ESPN’s Todd Archer, there is no concern surrounding the holdout. Expectations are that Lawrence’s deal will be finalized once contracts for players in his draft range (No. 23 overall) are completed.
Big-Money UDFAs Signal Investment
The Cowboys showed clear interest in two tight ends by awarding each $200,000 in guaranteed money—the highest among the undrafted class. In a competitive and talented tight end room, that financial commitment suggests the front office sees genuine potential in both players.
Michael Trigg, the Baylor standout, stands out as one of the more compelling UDFAs league-wide. At 6-foot-4 and 245 pounds, he brings an impressive combination of size, athleticism, and length. Trigg recorded 694 receiving yards and six touchdowns in his final college season. His physical profile is elite: he ranks in the 99th percentile in wingspan, 91st in arm length, and 91st in hand size among tight end prospects since 2011, according to MockDraftTable.com data. NFL Draft analyst Ryan Fowler has highlighted Trigg as one of the undrafted players with the strongest realistic chance to earn a roster spot, an assessment shared by many evaluators.
Joining Trigg is TCU’s D.J. Rogers, listed at 6-foot-3 and 230 pounds. Rogers finished his final collegiate season with 34 catches for 319 yards and two touchdowns. NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein projected him as a potential Round 6 or 7 talent, describing him as “an adequate athlete who possesses the play strength and catch-point savvy to compete for a depth-level role.”
While both tight ends face a steep climb in Dallas, the guaranteed money and their measurable tools give them a legitimate opportunity to stand out during minicamp and the upcoming OTAs. For most of the other 11 newcomers, the goal will be to flash enough talent in limited reps to earn an invitation to training camp or secure a practice squad spot.
With veteran leadership already in place and a strong draft class partially integrated, these undrafted additions provide the Cowboys with additional competition and potential hidden gems. Rookie minicamp offers the first on-field look at how this group stacks up. For 11 players who heard their names go unpicked in the draft, the message from Dallas is clear: opportunity awaits.
