3 Cowboys players who won’t be back in 2022

Michael Gallup is too good to stay at No. 3 wide receiver and will leave Dallas

For as much as the Cowboys may love to keep Michael Gallup around on a second contract, it’s just not in the cards for them. There are a few reasons for this. One, the former third-round pick out of Colorado State is too good to remain the Cowboys’ No. 3 wide receiver going forwards behind Amari Cooper and CeeDee Lamb. Other teams are going to want him to be their No. 2 option.

Two, Gallup is going to command quite a bit of money on the open market, but nowhere near what it would take to use the franchise tag on. While the Joneses will regularly pay a gross premium to keep one of their guys around, now is not the time for reckless spending. The Cowboys have a fourth Super Bowl to win with Jerry Jones as the team’s primary owner. The clock is ticking.

And three, Gallup is having his least productive season since his rookie year. Gallup has only played in seven games for the Cowboys. While he should eclipse his rookie campaign numbers, he is not going to get anywhere close to the impressive marks he put up in 2019 and 2020. Ultimately, Dallas has to trust its instincts in the draft and take Gallup’s replacement because he is walking.

As with Neal, the only way Gallup returns to Dallas is if he is willing to take a hometown discount.