Cowboys cut Michael Gallup and Leighton Vander Esch during first week of NFL free agency
The Dallas Cowboys are releasing two former starters before the end of the first week of NFL free agency. Dallas Morning News reported the Cowboys are letting go of wide receiver Michael Gallup and Leighton Vander Esch. Both moves happen on very different contexts. Gallup was demoted midway through the 2023 season as Jalen Tolbert […]
The Dallas Cowboys are releasing two former starters before the end of the first week of NFL free agency.
Dallas Morning News reported the Cowboys are letting go of wide receiver Michael Gallup and Leighton Vander Esch.
Both moves happen on very different contexts. Gallup was demoted midway through the 2023 season as Jalen Tolbert ate into his snap count slowly but surely with the turning point being the Cowboys' loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 9, when Gallup was benched for Tolbert in the second half.
Gallup's exit of Dallas has been well announced after the team granted him permission to seek a trade before arriving to the unavoidable conclusion. Last month, we deemed there was a "low" likelihood of Gallup returning in 2024:
(Declining playing time and production) combined with Gallup's $8.5M salary for 2024 will likely lead to the front office turning the page. For it to make financial sense, expect the Cowboys to designate him as a post-June 1st release, which would open up $9.5M in June, per Over the Cap.
Leighton Vander Esch wasn't really about performance
With LVE, things are different: The veteran linebacker suffered a neck injury in San Francisco that complicated matters greatly. Stephen Jones even seemed to hint toward a LVE retirement when he spoke at the NFL Combine.
In fact, Vander Esch's release took place with a failed physical designation.
Vander Esch could retire following news about his release.
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