The Washington Commanders needed another wide receiver to complement the other options at Jayden Daniels' disposal. Dan Quinn turned to someone he knew well for assistance.
It's been a long time since Michael Gallup was on an NFL field. He retired after the 2023 season, which was surprising considering he was active for all 17 games. But the itch never left the former third-round pick out of Colorado State.
Gallup confirmed he was looking to get back after a campaign away from the gridiron. The Commanders immediately showed interest, bringing in the wideout for a visit without anything concrete emerging initially. After some thoughtful discussions between those in power, they are giving him a shot to resurrect his career in Washington.
Commanders give Michael Gallup a chance to shine on the big stage once again
The Commanders confirmed the signing of Gallup, who is still just 29 years old. He's an explosive pass-catcher who can stretch the field. It'll take him time to get his football legs back, which is why getting him signed early was wise.
Now, Gallup has a full offseason to familiarize himself with Kliff Kingsbury's schematic concepts and Daniels' tendencies. It does not cost the Commanders much to find out if there is something left in the tank, but this move brings more intrigue than most.
Gallup looked like a superstar once upon a time, going over 1,100 receiving yards in 2019 and proving highly elusive in the open field. Injuries derailed his progress significantly, which forced the Cowboys to go with a new WR1 in Oklahoma graduate CeeDee Lamb.
This demoted Gallup to secondary duties, but he never lost his top-end downfield burst. He tracks the ball extremely well and can manipulate opposing cornerbacks at the top of his route stems. The player's 21 career touchdowns confirm his finishing prowess when opportunities arise.
The Commanders are leaving no stone unturned to improve the supporting cast around Daniels this offseason. Terry McLaurin and Luke McCaffrey remain. Washington re-signed Noah Brown and K.J. Osborn. They also pulled off a daring trade for Deebo Samuel Sr. after things fizzled out with the San Francisco 49ers.
Just how much Gallup can help remains to be seen. But the fact Washington struck so quickly into the offseason to secure his services indicates a level of confidence.
Expecting miracles right away would be unfair and unrealistic in equal measure. But watching Gallup's progress throughout the preparation period adds another eye-catching dynamic into the equation.