Michael

Gallup

Gallup’s retirement is somewhat abrupt after he signed a one-year deal with the Raiders in the offseason. The Raiders announced on Tuesday that he was placed on the reserve/retired list. A former third-round pick of the Cowboys, Gallup spent six seasons in Dallas, totaling 266 receptions for 3,744 yards and 21 touchdowns. He surpassed 1,000 yards in his second season, but did not reach those heights again. Gallup suffered a torn ACL in 2021 and did not find a prominent role in the Cowboys offense after that. Catching 34 passes for 418 yards and two touchdowns last season, the Cowboys released him in March, after which he signed with the Raiders. The Colorado State product will be known for his playmaking as one of the Cowboys’ top wideouts from 2019-2020.

Gallup made his rounds during the legal tampering period but ultimately went without a contract through the NFL Draft. That is, until the Raiders signed him to a one-year “prove it” deal Monday. Considering the Raiders are thin at the position behind Davante Adams and Jakobi Meyers, Gallup could push for starter’s snaps out of 11-personnel to start the season, assuming he can beat out Tre Tucker and Kristian Wilkerson. The one-year contract is worth up to $3 million.

The Panthers have also met with the veteran wideout. Gallup was cut by the Cowboys last week after another quiet season. He last went for more than 445 yards in 2020 and hasn’t looked like the explosive boundary receiver he once was since suffering a torn ACL in 2021. The Ravens took a pricey flyer on a veteran receiver with a checkered injury history last year in Odell Beckham and got mixed results. We expect they would only be interested in trying something similar at a far cheaper price this time around. Still, their lack of depth or high-end talent at wideout could make them a solid landing spot for Gallup to post a rebound season.

Gallup was let go by the Cowboys late last week as a cap-saving move. The veteran receiver totaled 34 receptions for 418 yards and two touchdowns last season and hasn’t gone for any more than 445 yards in either of the last three years. A torn ACL cut Gallup’s 2021 season short, but prior to that, the former third-round pick had gone for 800-plus yards in back-to-back seasons, topping out at 1,107 yards in 2019. Gallup will be 28 at the start of next season, but his limited production over the years makes him hard to trust as anything more than a WR4 in fantasy, regardless of where he lands.

Per ESPN’s Todd Archer, the move will be designated as a post-June 1 release. It clears $9.5 million in cap space for Dallas this year but saddles them with an $8.7 million dead cap charge next year. Gallup was given permission to seek a trade last week but nothing materialized. Once a rising star for the Cowboys, an ACL tear late in the 2021 season has seemingly sapped him of his athleticism. He ended the 2023 season with 34 catches for 418 yards and two scores. Coming off three straight seasons with fewer than 500 yards, he will have to take a one-year flier deal with his next team.

As beat writer Calvin Watkins points out, it’s “tough” since most teams are expecting 28-year-old Gallup to be released. The Cowboys are essentially trying to land a Day 3 pick, perhaps even a conditional one. Not the same since his ACL tear, Gallup has just 842 yards over his past 31 games. Gallup would clear $9.5 million in cap space were he designated a post-June 1 cut.

Gallup, who had one regular season game with more than 70 yards, made the most of his opportunities in pass-heavy comeback script against Green Bay. He had a 42-yard grab over the middle — one of the team’s biggest plays of the day. Gallup’s 2023 season saw the veteran fall behind CeeDee Lamb, Jake Ferguson, and Brandin Cooks in the pass-catching pecking order; he managed only two games with more than three receptions. Entering his age-28 season, Gallup won’t be fantasy relevant in 2024 unless the Cowboys part ways with Cooks in the offseason.

Dak Prescott connected with Gallup on a rub-screen from one-yard out to end the first half. He would later add a 39-yard grab down the sideline on the team’s final possession to pad his counting stats. Gallup remains behind wide receivers CeeDee Lamb and Brandin Cooks and tight end Jake Ferguson in the target pecking order in Dallas but should return sporadic fantasy utility down the stretch.

With Jalen Brooks (one target) and Jalen Tolbert (three targets) also getting run in the Cowboys’ receiving corps, Gallup is hardly fantasy relevant. He has had a disappointing season, moving down the pecking order amongst the Cowboys offensive weapons. Gallup can be left on fantasy benches for Week 13 against the Seahawks.

This has become all too typical of a statline for Gallup, who has bettered 31 yards one time in his past six appearances. This, as Brandin Cooks has finally come alive opposite CeeDee Lamb. The Commanders are a mouthwatering Week 12 matchup, but Gallup won’t be a top-50 wideout for Thanksgiving week.