4 Dallas Cowboys X-factors for 2022 season
By Randy Gurzi
Dallas Cowboys X-factor No. 1: Michael Gallup, WR
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When the Cowboys traded Amari Cooper to the Cleveland Browns, it was a sign that they had the utmost faith in CeeDee Lamb as the No. 1 wide receiver. It was also a sign that they had a ton of faith in Michael Gallup, who will continue to be the No. 2 receiver after he signed a five-year, $62.5 million extension this offseason.
Gallup is also coming off a torn ACL, which has his availability for the early portion of the season in jeopardy. However, he will return at some point and when he does, he will be someone who the offense will lean heavily on.
While Lamb had over 1,000 yards in just his second season and is expected to take a huge leap forward, Gallup brings something to this offense that no one else has in recent seasons — his ability to bring in the contested deep ball.
Gallup is the one who Dak Prescott goes to when there’s nothing there, and he trusts that a 50-50 ball in Gallup’s direction will either be a reception, or it will hit the ground. And more often than not, No. 13 pulls it down.
This even happened on his final reception of the 2021 season as Gallup hauled in a contested touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals but injured his knee in the process.
As for the 2022 campaign, Dallas will be able to move it on the ground with Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard. They will get yardage from Lamb and Dalton Schultz. But if they want to take it to the next level, they will need Gallup to make a miraculous catch from time to time.