After trading away Dak Prescott’s former top target in Amari Cooper, the Cowboys gave Michael Gallup a large contract.
Cooper was set to make near $60 million over the next three seasons, but the Cowboys had an out after this season. Rather than losing the Alabama product for nothing, Dallas dealt Cooper to the Cleveland Browns for a soda machine and some draft picks.
Cooper is one of the best route-runners in the league when healthy, making it a shame he’s dealt with injuries far too often in his seven-year career.
To replace a player of that caliber, the Cowboys will rely on CeeDee Lamb and Michael Gallup, who was also expected to hit the free agent market. Dallas’ front office ensured that never happened, signing Gallup to a friendly five-year contract.
Michael Gallup injury history
The one argument against giving Gallup such a contract is that he has an injury history of his own. He started just eight games last season and has dealt with a number of knee injuries, including a torn ACL.
Gallup doesn’t provide nearly the same level of consistency as Cooper, so it’s evident the Cowboys are trying to replace him by committee. With Lamb still on his rookie contract, and perhaps another draftee yet to come in April, Dallas didn’t feel the need to keep Cooper’s massive payday on the books.
Yet, they just handed Gallup over $10 million per season.
Amari Cooper contract
Cooper’s contract runs through 2024, and he’s set to make $20 million in each of those seasons. The Browns are committed to paying him, as there is no team opt-out.
Gallup’s deal, meanwhile, averages out to $12.5 million per season. Depending on the guaranteed money and the cap hits year-over-year, Dallas might’ve replaced one hefty wide receiver price tag with another.