Every year there are players that end up being steals in free agency. Whether it is someone that breaks out after a change of scenery or a player signs for less coming off an injury, there are always people that fall through the cracks and present great value for whoever is lucky enough to sign them. One intriguing team to watch this offseason will be the Chicago Bears.
This year, that free agent could be wide receiver, Michael Gallup. Gallup injured his knee in a Week 17 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals. 2021 was just not Gallup’s year when it came to good health, as he missed more games, eight, than he did the first three seasons of his career combined when he only missed three.
Those injury concerns, especially since the one against the Cardinals was a serious one, could lower his price in free agency. Had he been healthy, he would have been one of the better free agents available.
With the Cowboys facing some salary cap issues, it is unlikely that Gallup is brought back unless it is on a very cheap deal. There have been rumors that Dallas could look to move Amari Cooper as well, so their wide receiver room could look drastically different in 2022 than it did in 2021. In addition to Gallup, Cedrick Wilson is also a free agent.
One team to keep an eye on when it comes to Gallup, according to ESPN, is the Chicago Bears. They put together a piece detailing the best fit for 50 free agents in 2022 and they believe Gallup would fit in best in The Windy City.
“The Bears will prioritize a receiver who can win one-on-one matchups for quarterback Justin Fields. Gallup will be the steal of free agency if a team gets a discount due to his torn ACL. By midseason, he should be humming. Offensive coaches around the league love this guy’s game and felt he has been underutilized in Dallas.”
Gallup had a breakout in 2019 when he caught 66 passes for 1,107 yards and six touchdowns. All three numbers were career-highs. In 2020, he saw his production drop slightly, as the Cowboys used their first-round pick in wide receiver CeeDee Lamb and Dak Prescott missed a large chunk of the season because of injury.
After playing third fiddle to Cooper and Lamb, the opportunity to join a team in the Bears that has plenty of targets available is something that could appeal to Gallup. Chicago needs someone that can take the top off the defense and could get a discount signing Gallup as well.
