3 free agent wide receivers in 2022 to take Cleveland Browns to next level
By Randy Gurzi
2. Michael Gallup
Taken just one round after Courtland Sutton in the 2018 NFL Draft, Michael Gallup joined the Dallas Cowboys in a transitional season. They were moving on from Dez Bryant and needed a new No. 1 wideout.
They hoped Gallup could develop into that but he wasn’t ready as a rookie. For that reason, they traded for Amari Cooper near midseason who instantly became the top receiver — and also helped Gallup get things figured out in the NFL.
Entering his fourth season in the league, Gallup has 2,457 yards and 13 touchdowns on 158 receptions. His best campaign was in 2019 when he had 1,107 yards and six touchdowns despite missing two weeks due to knee surgery.
He was one of two Cowboys wideouts with over 1,000-yards that year and after Dallas drafted CeeDee Lamb there was talk about all three hitting the mark. That didn’t happen with Dak Prescott breaking his ankle in Week 5 but even with Andy Dalton, Ben DiNucci, and Garrett Gilbert throwing them the ball, they all had over 800 yards with Gallup’s 843 being the fewest of the three.
Even with his numbers going down last year, Gallup is a player on the rise and he should be able to put together another big year with Prescott back. But with Lamb already on the roster and Cooper making roughly $20 million per season, it could also be his last in Big D.
That could open the door for the Browns to make a move and if they did, he would be a great fit for their offense. He’s a willing blocker meaning he would do fine in their run-oriented offense and he’s also a great player down the field — which would be a welcome site for Baker Mayfield who is a great deep ball passer who just doesn’t have enough deep threats.