Just over two years ago, the Dallas Cowboys signed wide receiver Michael Gallup to a five-year, $62.5 million extension. The deal was looked at as a way for the Cowboys to secure a budding star receiver before his price tag rose. It was a bet on his future.
Now, it appears Gallup’s future in the NFL may be coming to a close.
The Las Vegas Raiders reportedly placed Gallup, 28, on the reserved/retired list on Tuesday, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The Cowboys cut Gallup earlier this off-season.
By cutting Gallup this off-season, the Cowboys saved $9.5 million in cap space for 2024.
An end to Gallup’s Cowboys career seemed increasingly more likely as this past season went on. Gallup had 32 targets in the first six games of the season, including a season-high 10 in Week 6 against the Chargers. He had 31 targets in total the rest of the season, including six in the playoff loss to Green Bay.
Gallup’s playing time also decreased as second-year wide receiver Jalen Tolbert took on a larger role.
Gallup finished this season with a career-low 418 yards receiving. Despite that, teammates and coaches were very complimentary of his ability to block and his selflessness in route running.
As his previous contract showed, Gallup was once an ascending receiver for Dallas. He had 507 yards receiving his rookie season after he was selected in the third round out of Colorado State. In 2020, he had a career-high 1,107 yards.
Gallup suffered a torn ACL the next season. The Cowboys still signed him to an extension, though he never returned to form.
The Raiders signed Gallup to a one-year, $1.75 million deal this off-season, though it appears he’ll never play a game for them.