After six seasons and nearly 65 starts with the Dallas Cowboys, Michael Gallup has found a new place. According to Adam Schefter, the veteran wide receiver has agreed to a one-year agreement with the Las Vegas Raiders worth up to $30 million.
Gallup is coming off his worst season as a professional. He did not miss a game for the Cowboys in 2023, although he had a career low in receiving yards (418) and receiving yards per game (24.6). It was Gallup’s third consecutive season without over 450 yards.
Gallup’s yardage has decreased each season since his sole 1,000-yard season in 2019. Gallup totaled more than 79 yards per game over 14 games that year. He also tallied a career-high six touchdowns.
Gallup totaled 21 touchdowns and averaged 43.5 yards per game with the Cowboys. He also had a strong Dallas finish in the wild card game last season. Gallup has six receptions for 103 yards in the Cowboys’ 48-32 loss to the Green Bay Packers.
Following Gallup’s rookie contract, Dallas signed him to a five-year agreement worth $62.5 million before the 2022 season. He survived just two seasons in that agreement and is now prepared to begin a new chapter of his NFL career with the Raiders.
At 28 years old, Gallup has time to right the ship for his career and become a productive player again. Are the Raiders the right fit for him?
Raiders building offensive skill players
The Raiders offense fell short of expectations last season, sputtering out of the start and failing to improve significantly after a midseason quarterback and coaching change. Las Vegas was ranked 23rd in passing offense and 27th in overall offense in 2023. These are the Raiders’ lowest figures since 2014, when they had the worst offense and placed 26th in passing offense.
During training camp, the Raiders appear to be on the verge of a quarterback fight, and the front office has provided both parties with an abundance of weaponry to make them appear impressive. Gardner Minshew and Aidan O’Connell have the tools to help Las Vegas’ offense flourish, and the addition of Michal Gallup strengthens that.
Gallup joins a wide receiver group anchored by three-time first-team All-Pro Davante Adams, who has averaged 110 receptions, 1,396 yards, and 12 touchdowns over the last four years. Jakobi Meyers is coming off a great 2023 season in which he recorded 807 receiving yards and 10 total touchdowns. He also had a touchdown pass in his debut season with the Raiders.
Gallup’s addition is hardly the only offensive move made by new General Manager Tom Telesco. The Raiders choose All-American tight end Brock Bowers with the 13th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, despite widespread expectations that they would select a quarterback. He joins Michael Mayer to form a youthful tight end tandem that Las Vegas can cultivate over the next few seasons.
The Raiders have advanced to the playoffs twice since losing Super Bowl 37 in 2003. Las Vegas has only had two winning seasons since then. The franchise has a lot of work to do before it can return to winning ways, but it hopes the future looks a little brighter following the draft.
