Cowboys Allowing Big-Name Veteran to Seek Out Trade
By Jovan Alford
The Dallas Cowboys might not make many moves in free agency as they don’t have much cap space to work with ($2.24 million per OverTheCap.com). However, Dallas plans to sign a few of their star players to contract extensions this offseason, so they will need to make a couple more cost-cutting moves.
One of those cost-cutting moves could involve veteran wide receiver Michael Gallup, who has fallen down the depth chart over the last few years.
Calvin Watkins of The Dallas Morning News reported on Saturday night that the Cowboys have permitted Gallup to seek a trade. However, Watkins adds that the “situation is tough” as teams expect the Cowboys to release the veteran wide receiver.
Cowboys have given WR Michael Gallup permission to seek a trade a source said. Situation is tough because teams expect Gallup to be released. @dmn_cowboys
— Calvin Watkins (@calvinwatkins) March 10, 2024
The 28-year-old Gallup has a base salary of $8.5 million for the 2024 season, but if he’s still on Dallas’ roster by Mar. 18, $4 million will be guaranteed for injury. That being said, there’s some type of incentive for the Cowboys to try and move him before the Mar. 18 deadline.
Along those same lines, if Dallas were to find a suitor for Gallup, they would take a $13M dead cap hit. However, if the Cowboys were to cut the veteran wide receiver with the post-Jun. 1 designation, it would split the cap hit over two seasons.
The former third-round pick made a name for himself in Dallas within his first three seasons with the team. Yet, Gallup has dealt with his share of injuries over the last few years, which has hampered his production.
This past season, the 6-foot-1 wide receiver posted 34 receptions (57 targets) for 418 yards and two touchdowns. Gallup also had a career-worst ADOT in 2023 (10.9), which was higher than CeeDee Lamb (9.5), but he didn’t make enough plays in a pass-heavy offense.
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