Dallas Cowboys: Michael Gallup going rate might resemble Anderson's
Walking out to the field with Amari Cooper, CeeDee Lamb, and Michael Gallup at wide receiver is a dream scenario for most NFL teams. But that's exactly why it will be hard for the Dallas Cowboys to keep the trio together for an extended period of time. Robby Anderson's deal with the Carolina Panthers might […]
Walking out to the field with Amari Cooper, CeeDee Lamb, and Michael Gallup at wide receiver is a dream scenario for most NFL teams. But that's exactly why it will be hard for the Dallas Cowboys to keep the trio together for an extended period of time. Robby Anderson's deal with the Carolina Panthers might be the latest reminder of that.
This week, Anderson signed a two-year deal with the Panthers for $29.5 million ($14.75 annual average value). That includes $20.5 million guaranteed, per ESPN's Adam Schefter.
The contract comes after only his first season in Carolina, in which he caught 95 passes for 1,096 yards, both career-high records for Anderson.
The wide receiver market has been booming for the last few years. Now granted, Robby's contract will not break any records. In fact, his average value per year won't break into the league's Top 15, per Over The Cap. But it paints a good picture of what could be ahead of Cowboys WR Michael Gallup when the time comes for him to get paid.
After all, Gallup hasn't set himself apart as one of the NFL's elite wide receivers and will probably land a payday closer to Anderson's than to those of the likes of Julio Jones, DeAndre Hopkins, Keenan Allen, who are all around the $20 million per year mark.
The Dallas Cowboys will have to face a tough decision at wide receiver after the 2021 season. With Michael Gallup set to become an unrestricted free agent after this season, three outcomes are possible:
- Keeping Gallup, Cooper, and Lamb. Although ideal, it'll be a tall task for the Cowboys' front office.
- Let Gallup sign elsewhere, keeping Cooper and Lamb.
- Let Cooper go, re-sign Gallup, and roll with the younger receivers.
It's fair to say that option #2 sounds like the most likely outcome. Although he's played hurt lately, Cooper is still the best wide receiver on the Cowboys and remains one of the best route runners in the NFL. But his contract – despite averaging $20 million per year – is very team-friendly and the Cowboys could open $16M in the salary cap if they trade him in 2022.
But then again, Amari Cooper is a better wide receiver than Michael Gallup. And the Dallas Cowboys are unlikely to forget about that. But NFL teams can act surprisingly with players who are dealing with injuries.
And then, there's your usual NFL salary cap wizardry we witness year after year. Even though the Cowboys are projected to be in a tough spot next year, you can never rule out front offices getting creative with its players' contracts.
In the meantime, Michael Gallup will do his best to help his team win a Super Bowl. But he'll also do his best to secure his payday in 2022. Be it with the Cowboys or with another team.
Featured image via Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
