Despite Cooper Trade, Michael Gallup's Development Can't Be Ignored

Add us on Google

The Cowboys made the type of splash they’ve avoided in recent years over their bye week, trading a first round pick for wide receiver Amari Cooper. The former fourth overall draft pick brings a receiving element which the Cowboys have not had on the outside this season, and will hopefully open up the middle of the field for Cole Beasley as well.

Trading for Cooper makes sense on a lot of levels, and even if you disagree with the compensation, you have to be excited about the upside of this receiving corps moving forward. Amari Cooper as the X, Cole Beasley in the slot, and Michael Gallup as the Z receiver.

Yes, rookie wide out Michael Gallup. Not free agent signee Allen Hurns.

Despite trading for Amari Cooper, and hopefully re-signing Beasley this upcoming offseason, the Cowboys need to make sure that Gallup’s development is towards the top of their priorities. They can’t allow an average-at-best veteran receiver to take his snaps on the outside, no matter what his price tag currently is.

Over the last few games Michael Gallup has looked more and more like his college-self, and even scored his first NFL touchdown against Washington when the Cowboys were last in action. Outside of Beasley, Michael Gallup has been the Cowboys’ best route runner this season. And, outside of former first rounder Amari Cooper, I believe Gallup has the most upside of any of the Cowboys’ receivers.

Of course, this doesn’t guarantee anything with Gallup. He may never be the player that all of us in the draft world expected, but he has already begun to show signs that he will develop into that mold. The Cowboys need to make sure that Michael Gallup doesn’t get lost in the wide receiver shuffle during the second half of this season, to better ensure his growth as a professional player.

They have to make it a point to get Gallup on the field opposite of Cooper, as that is what they should hope will be their 1-2 punch moving into the future. Luckily, playing Michael Gallup as that Z receiver doesn’t require a sacrifice in play quality right now, as I would argue he is already a better player than Hurns.

Was this helpful?

Kevin Brady

Die-hard Cowboys fan from the Northeast, so you know I am here to defend the 'boys whenever necessary. Began writing for a WordPress Cowboys Blog, and have been with ITS since 2016.

Topics

Cowboys News Feed - Free Dallas Cowboys News App for Android

4 Comments

Sexcdex Xfact 7 years ago

I don't see us abandoning Gallup nor burying him in the depth chart He's a 2nd rd pick but had as high as mid to late 1st rd grades in him Ridley has Sanu & Julio drawing most of the attention which helps him to get open Now, Cooper can do the same for Cole & Gallup This us also due to Mr Zeke th Freak Elliott of course We are primed for a return to prominence
Ethan 7 years ago

As long as Dak feels phantom pressure, doesn’t see the field and dumps off the ball on 3rd and long to Zeke it does not matter who the wr is. As long as the O line makes horrible penalties seemingly every major gain to destroy drives it doesn’t matter who the wr is. As little g as the TE group sucks it doesn’t matter who our WRs are.
Steve 7 years ago

IMO Gallup is gonna be a stud, you are correct that he is already better than Hurns! They should have Gallup in for the majority of the snaps and continue his development and moving forward we could have a sweet trio of Wr's for the next 5 yrs or so! Now its up to Dak to get his crap together and find them open! Just like the Skin game which I was at and realized how open Gallup was and it didnt matter if Norman was with him or not, he made plays and Dak made some sweet throws BUT he missed Gallup on that strip sack for a TD for the Skins because Gallup was open for a 95 yard TD
1. Sexcdex Xfact 7 years ago
  
  There was darn good reason he didn't see him All 22 film revealed Dak couldn't have stepped into the throw which could've been Judy's disastrous as the strip sack recovery for that TD Dak pocket presence could've been better to see the UNBLOCKED pass-rusher & escaped to find Gallup however Dak said he saw Gallup but tried to escape & didn't adjust in time nor protect the ball Dak HAS flat-out missed receivers before but that wasn't one of them Now the receivers have dropped their fair share this season too Including Zeke's missed TD catch in the back of the endzone 's Washington We need to mention apprx 5 dropped TD passes A negated TD pass by Zeke's stepping out of bounds Gallup NOT getting both feet down etc Dak getting the ball there & receivers catching it are just as frequent as Dak's inaccuracy The O line has been very suspect also That's why a coach just got fired & Dak's been told to go certain places on certain plays also That's coaching They're all to blame