There has been plenty of attention directed toward the Dallas Cowboys wide receiver core since the departure of former Pro Bowl wideout Dez Bryant back in April.
This has left a significant void in the passing game for the rest of the group to pick up in the 2018 campaign. During Thursday's preseason action against the San Francisco 49ers, rookie Michael Gallup made an impressive 30-yard touchdown catch on a strong throw by quarterback Dak Prescott by getting past cornerback Jimmie Ward.
It may have been a simple route up the field for Gallup, it did show that he has the ability to get open down the field and could become a reliable receiving option for Prescott in his first campaign. Although, there hasn't been any clear separation from any player in the wide receiver group toward stepping up as the top receiving option, plays like this could help Gallup make headway.
The Cowboys had taken him 81st overall in the third round of this year's draft with the hope that he can step into being a major contributor out of the gate. In his collegiate career at Colorado State, Gallup established himself as one of the most productive wide receivers in the nation, earning a pair of All-Mountain West selections and a Second-Team All-American nod. In his senior year, he posted a school-record 100 receptions for 1,413 receiving yards and seven touchdowns in 13 games played.
There will be plenty of focus on Prescott to show that he can help the Cowboys bounce back after a disappointing 2017 campaign narrowly missing the playoffs. The pressure is on him to prove he can be the long-term solution under center in Dallas while making progress with his ability to lead the team with his arm. These next few weeks of training camp and the preseason will be huge in helping build more chemistry on the field with his wide receivers.