The Dallas Cowboys have been mostly inactive in free agency, and there is a case to be made that their biggest free agent transaction involved cutting wide receiver Michael Gallup. A former third-round pick, the one-time 1,100-yard receiver started his career as one of the better mid-round picks of the Jerry Jones Era. Throughout his rookie contract, the Colorado State product proved to be an effective second option in the passing attack.
Unfortunately, Michael Gallup tore his ACL toward the end of the 2021 season, just before he became a free agent. Still, the Cowboys believed in him enough to hand out a five-year, $62.5 million contract despite the injury. This proved to be a poor decision, as Gallup never managed to recapture his pre-injury form. After two disappointing seasons, Dallas released the homegrown talent to save some much-needed cap space.
Michael Gallup might not be the player he once was, but the free agent is drawing some interest on the open market. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the wide receiver is going to visit the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday, and they probably won’t be the only team looking to bring him in.
Cowboys free-agent WR Michael Gallup is scheduled to visit Thursday with the Baltimore Ravens.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 20, 2024
Michael Gallup Schedules Free Agent Visit With Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens do not have the money to add a superstar free agent, so it makes sense that they’re going for a buy-low target with Michael Gallup. After losing several key free agents, John Harbaugh’s squad will have to do some bargain shopping if they want to finally make their way to the Super Bowl. With Odell Beckham already saying his goodbyes, this team needs to find somebody to be the third option in the passing attack.
Mark Andrews is one of the best all-around tight ends in the game, and Zay Flowers had a promising rookie season. However, with the Chiefs upgrading their offensive weaponry, Baltimore will need at least three reliable pass-catchers if they want to overtake the reigning Super Bowl champions. Michael Gallup might not be the player he once was, but the free agent can provide some reliable depth for a minimal cap hit.
Of course, the Ravens will not be the only teams interested in signing Michael Gallup as a free agent. Good wide receivers are hard to come by, and teams everywhere should be looking for a cost-effective set of hands with decent upside.
Possible Team Fits
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins have two phenomenal receivers in Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, but not a whole lot behind them. While Braxton Berrios is a decent underneath threat, he lacks the deep speed that Mike McDaniel loves. Michael Gallup used to have the speed to consistently beat defenses over the top, and while the free agent has slowed down a bit, he’s more than capable of getting open with defenses focused on Hill and Waddle.
Kansas City Chiefs
The Marquise Brown signing was one of the best moves of the offseason, but the Kansas City Chiefs shouldn’t be done there. The team is reportedly looking for another deep threat, and Michael Gallup might be the best free agent for the job. Even though he’s a shell of his former self, the present-day version of Michael Gallup is still more reliable than Skyy Moore or Kadarius Toney. Seeing as the team is going for the first three-peat in NFL history, they need to focus on improving all aspects of the roster to increase their odds of making history.
New England Patriots
The Patriots wide receiver room is so bad that Michael Gallup would probably start if signed as a free agent. While Kendrick Bourne and Demario Douglas are fun players, neither guy is capable of being the focal point in a passing attack. With Gallup in town, these three combined with tight end Hunter Henry might be enough to support New England’s quarterback, whoever that may be. This team still needs a superstar, but this army of adequate talent could be enough to get the job done in the short term.
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are slowly building a decent support network for Bryce Young. Diontae Johnson can get open quickly and make plays after the catch, Adam Thielen is still a reliable intermediate threat, and the offensive line is fortified with two big-money additions. While Young can survive with this supporting cast, Carolina could still use a low-risk free agent like Michael Gallup. In a perfect world, the former Cowboy will bring a much-needed vertical threat to this offense.
Los Angeles Chargers
It’s hard to think of a worse collection of wide receivers than the ones in Los Angeles. Keenan Allen and Mike Williams both carried massive cap hits, so one can see why the Chargers parted ways with the duo. What doesn’t make sense, however, is not replacing them with even a mid-tier free agent like Michael Gallup. Josh Palmer is the definition of a journeyman wide receiver, while 2022 first-round pick Quentin Johnston looked like an absolute disaster as a rookie. Maybe Gallup doesn’t have much left in his tank, but he’s still a much-needed addition to this room.
Main Photo: Tim Heitman – USA Today Sports
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