Michael Gallup turned heads in his second season. Many years later, he now aims to give the team that gave him his shot regrets.
Back in 2019, Michael Gallup was a must-know name in the NFL. A member of the Dallas Cowboys, the wide receiver delivered 1107 yards and six touchdowns.
However, over the next half-decade, the Dallas Cowboys wide receiver saw his production trail off. As conversations increased about CeeDee Lamb, Michael Gallup became old news.
Still, the wide receiver showed up for work in Dallas and did all he could to remind fans of his 1000-yard breakout. The occasional sighting led some to believe that Gallup should be traded. That never happened, but the wide receiver did show up with a Cowboys rival eventually.
The Washington Commanders signed Michael Gallup to the team, marking his foray out of Dallas. The team was not quiet about it, dedicating a post on social media to announce the move.
However, as a free agent, Michael Gallup had the freedom to sign anywhere. Staying in the NFC East might not have been the best move for the wide receiver. Here are three reasons why the move might not be the breakout success both parties are hoping for.
#1 – Buried on depth chart
Unless something shocking happens, Michael Gallup will slide in as the team’s fourth receiver. In terms of pure talent, Gallup might be an asset for the Commanders in the fourth-string role. However, behind Terry McLaurin, Deebo Samuel, and Noah Brown, Gallup has a long line ahead of him when it comes to target priority.
Even if he’s breaking open on every down, Jayden Daniels will need to look at three other places before the wide receiver. That sets up for less production which could make his next negotiation even tougher.
#2 – Scheduled to play against a defense that knows him too well
Michael Gallup has gone up against the Dallas Cowboys defense in practice for his entire career. The team has studied him at a level unlike anyone else. By joining the Commanders, he puts himself in line for two yearly matchups against the team that knows him better than he knows himself.
When the Cowboys look at the game-day roster, they’ll exhale because they don’t need to do much scouting on him. Michael Gallup could have avoided this by going elsewhere.
#3 – Jayden Daniels could slow down in 2025
The Washington Commanders quarterback had a breakout rookie season to be remembered. However, he isn’t a secret anymore. He has put the NFL on notice and put a target on his back in the process. Teams around the league will be studying the tape of Daniels this offseason with the hopes of being the first to crack the nut.
CJ Stroud, Mac Jones, and many other rookie sensations saw a dip in their second seasons. If Daniels has a dip, it makes it that much harder for Michael Gallup to impress enough to make a name for himself. Staring down at the age of 30, the wide receiver is putting a lot into having a breakout season for one last bite at the apple in his next contract negotiation. He might have put his eggs in the wrong basket.
