5 Dallas Cowboys who deserve a contract extension

Michael Gallup, WR

All of the talk the last offseason was about “team 40 burger” as the Dallas wide receiver core was something to really get excited about. Amari Cooper is the clear number one and Cedee Lamb was the rookie with star power.

The third wheel of this creation was often overlooked by big media but those of us who follow the team know that Michael Gallup is a rising star. He also seems to come up big when needed most. His clutch catches remind me of the job former wideout Alvin Harper used to make opposite of Michael Irvin.

Now, most people want to trade Gallup as he holds a significant amount of trade value and is playing on a third-round salary. I don’t disagree with that thought process as smart clubs know when to cut their losses but I want to explore what an extension would hypothetically look like in Dallas.

Gallup had 59 receptions which tied him for the 50th most in the league. With 32 teams and at a minimum two starting wideouts, that means he falls in the bottom half of the 64 projected starting wide receivers.

His 843 yards ranked 34th, his five touchdowns tied him at 44, and his 14.3 receiving yard average was good enough for 23rd best in the league.

Gallup ranks more like a good third wideout which in reality he is here in Dallas. I really wonder if this three-headed monster bothers Gallup or he doesn’t mind playing in this wide receiver corps.

Playing on a third-round rookie deal, Gallup has a $2.3 million base salary and a $200K prorated bonus making his cap hit this year around $2.6 million. That ladies and gentleman is the very definition of a bargain.

Pro Football Focus came out with their top 25 wide receivers in the league and not a single Cowboys receiver made the list. Their list was based on their PFF overall grades which negatively affects receivers who missed time or had a couple of low statistical games. I took a look at the bottom three and their contracts to see if that is somewhere the Dallas Cowboys can start.

Sterling Shepard, Sterling Moore, and Jakobi Meyers are the bottom three on this list and I think that Sterling Shepard is a perfect comparison. Shepard is arguably the New York Giants’ number one receiver. He signed a four-year, $41 million deal with the Giants who is a starter in the same division.

If Dallas can convince Gallup that he is worth around the same amount, an extension could benefit both sides. If Gallup were to sign a deal similar to this, the Cowboys can tuck some of that extension money under this year’s salary cap. If Gallup’s camp is not close to this number, then it might be time to explore trade options.