4 pending free agent receivers the Detroit Lions need to consider signing
By Bob Heyrman
The Detroit Lions need to consider signing pending free agent Michael Gallup this offseason.
Michael Gallup is a pending free agent, and the former highly regarded third-round pick has fallen down the depth chart in Dallas. It really doesn’t have anything to do with Gallup; it’s because the Cowboys deploy a pair of tremendous pass-catchers in Amari Cooper and CeeDee Lamb. I don’t expect Jerry Jones to have the necessary funds available to re-sign Gallup and improve the Cowboy roster in other more pressing areas.
Just two years ago, Gallup recorded 66 receptions totaling 1,107 yards and six touchdowns in his second NFL season. That was after a solid rookie campaign where he turned 66 targets into 33 grabs for 507 yards and a pair of scores.
In 2020, Gallup regressed some from the year prior, totaling 843 yards and five touchdowns. After suffering a calf injury in Week One, the fourth-year pass-catcher recently returned to the Dallas lineup. Gallup has amassed 264 yards on 22 catches scoring one touchdown in five games this season.
If the Detroit Lions decide to sign Gallup, he’d be without a doubt the teams’ number one receiver, and that should be general manager Brad Holmes’ pitch to the pending free agent.
Gallup can immediately impact Detroit’s passing game, and pairing him with St. Brown, Reynolds, and perhaps Raymond if the latter two are retained gives the Lions a somewhat respectful group of receivers. However, they’d still be in the market to draft or sign another receiver.
This reminds me a little bit of when the Lions signed Marvin Jones Jr. in free agency. Jones wanted the opportunity to be a top receiver and was behind A.J. Green for years in Cincinnati.
According to Spotrac, the market value for Gallup is $11.6 million annually, and that seems like a very affordable and fair price for the 25-year old.