Dallas Cowboys: 3 Early breakout candidates for 2019 season
3. Michael Gallup, WR
When the Dallas Cowboys landed Michael Gallup in the third round with the 81st overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, many analysts pegged the Colorado State product as one of the steals of the draft. Even with that evaluation, though, the question was just how good Gallup would perform in his rookie season given the potential struggles of the passing game with a pedestrian wide receiver corps.
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Overall, Gallup performed solidly in his first NFL season. Playing in all 16 games for the Cowboys, he amassed 33 receptions on 68 targets that were good for 507 yards and two touchdowns on the year. However, what’s worth noting is just how much more consistent and overall productive Gallup was once Amari Cooper arrived in Dallas and changed the offense.
Through the first seven games of the 2018 season without Cooper, Gallup averaged just 3.1 targets, 1.4 receptions and 27.1 receiving yards per game and had just one outing with 50 yards or more receiving. In nine games playing with Cooper, though, Gallup averaged 5.1 targets, 2.6 receptions and 35.2 yards per game wit four games of 50 or more yards receiving. Moreover, he broke out with a 119-yard performance in the Divisional Round loss to the Rams in the postseason.
Gallup is not a No. 1 wide receiver in the NFL but has the potential to be a great secondary option if paired with a great No. 1. Cooper can be that guy for Gallup, thus opening up the offense for the Colorado State product. With that, the hope that new offensive coordinator Kellen Moore will open up the offense with more creativity and the versatility that Randall Cobb offers from the slot too, Gallup could be in for a big-time sophomore season in Dallas.