Former Dallas Cowboys Wide Receiver to Join AFC Contender on One-Year Deal

A former Dallas Cowboys receiver is on the move.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, free agent wide receiver Michael Gallup plans to sign a one-year deal with the Las Vegas Raiders worth up to $3 million.

Gallup, 28, has spent all six years of his NFL career with the Cowboys. The Colorado State University product was drafted in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft by Dallas.

He appeared in all 16 games in his rookie season, before having a career year in 2019. That year, he set career-highs in targets (113), catches (66), receiving yards (1,107), and touchdowns (6), which all still stand as career-best marks.

In 2020, Gallup had another strong season, catching 59 passes for 843 yards and five touchdowns, and was turning into a serious threat in the Cowboys’ passing game. Unfortunately, Gallup then had an injury-riddled 2021. He missed the first two months of the season with a calf injury and then tore his ACL in Jan. 2022.

Despite the injury, the Cowboys signed Gallup to a five-year, $57.5 million extension that March and he was able to return to the field in October. Unfortunately, he didn’t put together the same type of production he had pre-injury, as he hauled in just 39 receptions for 424 yards and four touchdowns.

In 2023, it was another down year for Gallup, who had 34 receptions for 418 yards and two touchdowns. Despite Dallas lacking a true No. 2 option behind CeeDee Lamb, Gallup wasn’t able to be the guy. He was the team’s fourth-leading receiver, behind Lamb, tight end Jake Ferguson and wide receiver Brandin Cooks.

While the Gallup contract didn’t exactly work out, the Cowboys did give themselves an out after the 2024 season. After attempting to trade their former third-round pick, the Cowboys cut Gallup this offseason. The move created $9.5 million in cap space but will count for $8.7 million against the 2025 salary cap.

Gallup will now get a fresh start in Las Vegas, and join a loaded receiver room with Davante Adams, Jakobi Meyers, and Tre Tucker, among others. The Raiders also have two strong tight ends in Michael Mayer and recent first-round draft pick Brock Bowers, who the team took with the No. 13 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

As for the Cowboys, they continue their quiet offseason, where they’ve lost a lot more than they gained. Their two biggest acquisitions were in the running back room, where they signed veteran Royce Freeman and recently brought back their former All-Pro running back Ezekiel Elliott.

The Cowboys’ wide receiver room is currently Lamb, Cooks, Jalen Tolbert, and KaVontae Turpin, along with a ton of unproven commodities.