Six years ago, linebacker Leighton Vander Esch and wide receiver Michael Gallup joined the Cowboys.
They left the same way on Friday.
The Cowboys failed to make a physical selection on Vander Esch, a 2018 first-round pick, and released Gallup, a 2018 third-round pick, after June 1st. The two were selected one day apart and represent the last holdovers from a top draft class that included guard Connor Williams, defensive end Dorrance Armstrong, tight end Dalton Schultz and wide receiver Cedric Wilson. .
Neither decision was surprising.
The Cowboys have been preparing to do without Vander Esch for several months, but his medical condition due to recurring neck issues will soon lead to his decision to retire. Eric Kendricks, 32, signed a one-year contract on Friday and is expected to be the starting middle linebacker in 2024. The release of Vander Esch, who was owed $2 million in non-guaranteed salary in 2024, helped clear salary cap space for Kendricks.
Gallup was scheduled to receive a salary of $8.5 million. If he remained on the roster after Saturday's 3 p.m., $4 million of that amount would be fully guaranteed.
Gallup's post-June 1 designation was made for salary cap management purposes. This release will inevitably cost him $13.05 million in dead money against the cap, but the hit is now spread over two years. He will continue to carry a $13.85 million cap number as if he were still with the team in 2024. Come June, the Cowboys will have added $9.5 million in 2024 cap space. Gallup counts him at $8.7 million in 2025.
He was slated to be the fourth-highest paid offensive player on the Cowboys' 2024 books behind quarterback Dak Prescott, guard Zach Martin and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb. He finished fifth in goals despite playing every game in 2023. His 57 targets were fewer than Lamb (181), tight end Jake Ferguson (102), wide receiver Brandin Cooks (81) and running back Tony Pollard (67). Ta.
Gallup suffered a torn left ACL and MCL on January 2, 2022.
The Cowboys parted ways with Amari Cooper and Wilson two months later, signing them to five-year, $62.5 million extensions in the same offseason.
Gallup struggled in his first season after suffering a knee injury and was still not back to form in early 2023. This departure reduced his role in the Week 7 bye. In his first six games, Gallup drew 32 targets, second on the team behind Lamb's 46. Gallup caught 18 of those 32 passes for 204 yards and no touchdowns. Before the bye, Prescott earned a 60.8 grade on pitches to Gallup, including an interception when Gallup failed to separate for reporters in Week 5 against the San Francisco 49ers.
Vander Esch suffered a neck injury in the same game and missed the rest of the season.
As for his future, it seems appropriate to address it once he announces his career intentions.
As for Gallup, he can gain confidence in how his tenure with the Cowboys ended. He had six receptions on six targets for 103 yards in January's playoff loss to the Green Bay Packers, making a strong case for being underutilized all season. After winning by default, he finished 6th in goals in 11 regular season games. The 100-yard performance was Gallup's first since his knee injury. Gallup is currently healthy and taking chances elsewhere to distance himself from his knee injury.
Lamb, Cooks, Jalen Tolbert, Kavonte Turpin and 2023 seventh-round pick Jalen Brooks top the depth chart at wide receiver. Martavis Bryant, Jalen Cropper, David Durden and Lacey McBath round out the group. Bryant has a similar skill set to Gallup, but is 32 years old and hasn't played in an NFL game since the 2018 season.
The Cowboys seem certain to draft a linebacker next month.
There is also a possibility that a wide receiver like the one from 2018 will emerge.
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