The Dallas Cowboys are saying goodbye to wide receiver Michael Gallup.
The Cowboys also released wide receiver Michael Gallup for selection after June 1, according to sources. The Cowboys will save $9.5 million with him indoors this year, but in 2025 he will be worth $8.7 million.
— Todd Archer (@toddarcher) March 15, 2024
Over the weekend, it was reported that Dallas allowed Gallup to seek a trade and then further stated that they were looking for a suitable partner to replace Gallup. For Dallas, he's just reached a point where he needs to find a way to take the next step before the roster bonus deadline.
Gallup far exceeded expectations after the team spent a third-round pick on him in the 2018 NFL Draft. He arrived just after Dallas released Dez Bryant, overcame the infamous wide receiver debacle by committee, watched the team trade for Amari Cooper, and really hit his stride. As we were getting back, we saw a series of incredible changes in the wide receiver room. When CeeDee Lamb fell to the team during the 2020 NFL Draft.
It's about Cooper. It was between Gallup and Cooper that the Cowboys faced a crossroads after the 2021 season, and their choices were wrong (to say the least). The Cowboys traded Cooper to the Cleveland Browns and signed Michael Gallup to a new contract despite returning from a torn ACL in the penultimate game of the 2021 regular season. Unfortunately, Gallup never really found his pre-injury form.
As is the case with many players, the contract Gallup signed ultimately motivated the team to move on from him. It's not so much about Gallup for the Cowboys as it is about the contract that ties him to Gallup. He had a very productive period, but when that productivity declines, contracts always come into question.
