Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Michael Gallup is coming off of a solid rookie campaign in which he hauled in 33 receptions for 507 yards and a couple of touchdowns, certainly living up to his third-round selection and then some.
So, what should we expect from Gallup heading into 2019?
Yes, the Cowboys have Amari Cooper. Yes, they signed Randall Cobb. And yes, Jason Witten is making a comeback.
But the player we should be keeping an eye on most is Gallup, who could very well end up representing Dak Prescott's No. 2 target this coming season and is certainly talented enough to have that role.
While Gallup did not go to a big school, he was an absolute monster at Colorado State, capping off his collegiate career by catching 100 passes for 1,418 yards and seven scores during his senior campaign.
I know we can't exactly assume that NCAA stats will always translate into the NFL, but based on Gallup's impressive rookie year, it may be safe to say that Gallup is due for big things up ahead.
He may not have blinding speed, nor does he have incredible size at 6-foot-1 and about 200 pounds, but he is a terrific route runner with good hands, and with more targets coming his way in 2019, he could have a breakout season.
The Cowboys don't exactly have an outstanding passing game, as Prescott is a game manager more than people would like to believe (and that is coming from someone who likes Prescott a lot), but plays will be there for Gallup.
Let's remember that the Cobb that Dallas signed earlier this offseason is not the same Cobb from a few years ago, as he is coming off of an injury-riddled 2018 campaign in which he failed to even total 400 yards.
Also, while Witten is a future Hall-of-Famer and is one of the best players in Cowboys history, he is 37 years old and has not played football in over a year, so we don't know just how productive he is going to be.
Really, the only sure thing in Dallas' passing game is Cooper, who had a great half of a season with the Cowboys after coming over in a trade with the Oakland Raiders. You know who the next most reliable receiver is? That's right: Gallup.
It's also important to note that Gallup came on as the 2018 campaign progressed.
He logged just seven catches over his first six games and was a virtual afterthought in the Cowboys' offense, but after a three-catch, 81-yard performance that included his first career touchdown in a late October game against the Washington Redskins, something clicked, and from that point forward, Gallup became a legitimate piece in Dallas' aerial attack.
With a full season under his belt plus a decent playoff showing in which he snared eight balls for 137 yards and a score, Gallup should be a much more significant part of the Cowboys' offense in 2019, and with a great offensive line and a more experienced Prescott under center, this season could be a big one for Gallup both in terms of his own numbers and overall team success.
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