The Green Bay Packers are set to begin the 2023 NFL regular season with six wide receivers. Three of them, Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, and Samori Toure, were drafted in the 2022 NFL Draft. The other three were added this offseason. Jayden Reed and Dontayvion Wicks were drafted in the second and fifth rounds of the 2023 NFL Draft respectively, and Malik Heath was signed as an undrafted free agent.
Throughout the course of the offseason and preseason, the Packers’ leadership has stated repeatedly that they plan on going forward with their young pass catchers. Still, Matt LaFleur did state his desire for a veteran wide receiver before the NFL owners meetings, and many have not stopped proposing hypothetical trades that would get him one.
NFL Writers Suggests a Trade that Nets the Green Bay Packers Wide Receiver Michael Gallup from the Dallas Cowboys
The latest of these trade proposals sees the Packers trading two draft picks to the Dallas Cowboys for veteran wide receiver Michael Gallup. The proposal, made by Evan Massey of NFL Analysis Network would see Green Bay acquire Gallup for a 2024 third round pick and 2025 fifth round pick.
Massey wrote:
“On the outside looking in, this trade would be a good fit for both sides. The Cowboys would add some draft capital and move forward with CeeDee Lamb and Brandin Cooks as their top two targets. Granted, Jerry Jones and company could simply favor keeping Gallup as a weapon for Dak Prescott.
“As for the Packers, this would be an easy trade to pull the trigger on. Gallup is 27 years old and in the prime of his career. There have been injury concerns, but adding a veteran and proven weapon for Love should be a priority for Green Bay if the opportunity presents itself.”
The problem, though, is that this is not a good trade for both sides. At all.
Aside from what the Packers’ brass has stated numerous times about going forward with their young pass catcher, Gallup is simply not worth the risk of giving up a single draft pick, let alone two.
First of all, Gallup carries a $6.7 million cap hit this year, which is more than the Packers have available in free cap space. In 2024, his cap hit increases to $13.85 million in 2024 and then $15.85 million in 2025 and 2026. Now, none of the money following this season in guaranteed, but if the Packers were to cut him after 2023, they would still carry a $13 million dead cap hit.
That is not ideal for a team that is looking to save money and rebuild its roster.
Secondly, the injury concerns that Massey mentions are most certainly not worth the risk. Over the past two seasons, Gallup has missed 10 games. He put up 1,107 yards in 2019, but has failed to come close to that level since.
While the Packers expect to compete for the NFC North title in 2023, they still need to allow their young wide receivers to play and gain experience. Adding a veteran will take away their snaps, something the team is not willing to allow happen. If they wanted a veteran wide receiver, they would have gotten on by now.
Dallas Cowboys Analysts Do Not Even Like the Trade
Mike Fisher, who covers the Cowboys for Sports Illustrated, wrote of this proposal:
“The Cowboys have CeeDee Lamb and Brandin Cooks as their top two targets. Even if the surging Jalen Tolbert was deemed completely reliable – and maybe that’s coming – he’s the fourth guy. Gallup is the third guy. And having four capable wideouts is not a luxury as much as it’s a strength.
“Simply, Dallas – trying to win a Super Bowl – needs Gallup this year more than it needs Day 3 draft picks in 2024.”
Fisher also argues that the idea that the trade is “fair” for both sides is highly questionable, and he is right. There is no way that the Cowboys would trade Gallup while they are making a run for the Super Bowl, and there is no way the Packers would give up two draft picks for a guy who only posted 39 catches for 424 yards last season. That would be like Green Bay trading away Romeo Doubs for a second and fifth round pick.
No team would do that, and this proposal simply does not make sense.
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