Cowboys Release $87 Million Starter for ‘Player on the Rise,’ Says Insider
After being unable to return to his previous production, Michael Gallup appears to be moving down the Dallas Cowboys depth chart. The latest Cowboys news shows that second-year wideout Jalen Tolbert is earning snaps as the team’s third wideout ahead of Gallup. ESPN’s Ed Werder pointed out that this change took place against the Seahawks in Week 13.
“Tolbert started vs. Seahawks on a three-receiver formation with Gallup coming in next play,” Werder said on X (formerly known as Twitter) on December 3, 2023. “Clearly, it seems MG has not been the player since the injury that he was before it; Tolbert is a young player on the rise. Cowboys thought MG would give the same production as Amari at half the cost.”
It is important to note that Gallup is still earning playing time on the offense. Gallup’s 46% of offensive snaps remains more than Tolbert’s 36% and KaVontae Turpin’s 15%. Tolbert’s 37% did top Gallup’s 33% of snaps against the Commanders in Week 12.
Some of this data has to do with Dallas using a rotation of players in three receiver sets now instead of Gallup solely holding the spot. CeeDee Lamb and Brandin Cooks have solidified themselves as the team’s top two wideouts as the postseason nears.
Dallas faces a decision on Gallup not only when it comes to the receiver rotation but also the veteran’s future in Big D. Gallup’s five-year, $57.5 million contract is slated to run through the 2026 season.
The receiver’s salary jumps from $1.6 million to $8.5 million in 2024. Gallup’s $6.7 million cap hit this season also significantly rises to $13.8 million in 2024.
The Cowboys could opt to move on from Gallup this offseason but it comes with a hefty dead cap hit of $13 million. This does not represent a significant salary cap savings for next season but allows Dallas to no longer be on the hook for the remaining three years of Gallup’s deal.
The Cowboys could opt to move on from Gallup this offseason but it comes with a hefty dead cap hit of $13 million. This does not represent a significant salary cap savings for next season but allows Dallas to no longer be on the hook for the remaining three years of Gallup’s deal.
To recap previous Cowboys news, the front office wrongly believed Gallup could replace Amari Cooper at a cheaper price. Dallas opted to re-sign Gallup during the 2022 offseason while trading Cooper to the Browns.
