Is this season the last for Michael Gallup in Dallas?

Michael Gallup’s time with the Dallas Cowboys may end with his contract

The Dallas Cowboys once again have a lethal offense. It contains an elite quarterback, an elite group of receivers, and a top-notch offensive line. The downside is you can’t keep all the pieces to the puzzle.

Saving money usually has to do with drafting players and having them play out their rookie contracts. That player will replace another player that just finished their rookie contract.

One pending free agent is the wide receiver, Michael Gallup. He has played well with the Cowboys despite never being the top option on the team.

He has been an efficient second option for quarterback Dak Prescott. His rookie season was solid, followed up with an incredible sophomore season where he eclipsed 1,000 receiving yards.

Last season was a step-down, but it was still impressive considering the circumstances. He caught 59 passes for 843 yards and five touchdowns. Despite that, his tenure with the Cowboys is up in the air.

Gallup is known for vertically stretching the defense, opening space for his teammates, or making a catch for a long gain. With his departure, who can fill that role?

Grooming a replacement

This past draft, the Dallas Cowboys drafted CeeDee Lamb in the first round. He had an impact on a team that already boasted a top wide receiver duo.

He caught 74 passes for 935 yards and five touchdowns. Lamb topped Gallup in every category except for yards per reception and tied for receiving touchdowns. He even proved to be effective running the ball, averaging 8.2 yards per run on ten carries.

The Cowboys needed a receiver that can make the physical jump catches. They missed that guy since wide receiver Dez Bryant left the team after the 2017 season. Now, they have a versatile wideout that can make those plays.

Lamb has the speed and route-running ability to stretch the opposing defense. The Dallas Cowboys can roll with him or draft a speedy wideout. That then makes Gallup expendable and saves the team money.

Gallup can ask for around $12 million per season. That’s because wideout Curtis Samuel just signed a three-year deal giving him $11.5 million per season with the Washington Football Team.

Micheal Gallup has outperformed Samuel, topping his stats despite playing seven fewer games. Owner Jerry Jones is not paying that much money to keep him around.

The 2021 season will be the last season in which the Dallas Cowboys put forward three top wide receivers. Keeping the group around is too good to be true, and they are lucky to have the chance to field them in the first place.

Hopefully, the team can make the most of it this season and compete for a Super Bowl. If not, then it will be yet another lost season for the Cowboys. Michael Gallup will not return to the team next season.