Report: Former Cowboys WR Michael Gallup to visit Carolina Panthers

The Carolina Panthers are interested in adding some help for Bryce Young and will meet with free agent Michael Gallup next week after he was released by the Cowboys this weekend.

Here was the report of a scheduled meet-up between Carolina and Gallup, via NFL insider Ian Rapoport:

“As the #Panthers continue to look to add weapons, source says they are bringing in former #Cowboys WR Michael Gallup in for a visit next week.”

Gallup heads into his seventh season in the league next year and he carried the sixth-highest cap hit for Dallas in 2024. After his third straight season with less than 500 yards, the Cowboys opted to release him to save room on the cap and clear around $9 million by cutting him this offseason.

The former Colorado State star tore his ACL in Week 17 of the 2021-22 season. Coming off of injury in 2022, he posted 39 receptions on 74 targets, totaling 424 yards and four touchdowns. He had similar production this season. He played all 17 games with 34 catches, 418 yards and two touchdowns.

In 2019, Gallup was able to accumulate over 1,000 receiving yards, which was the height of his career so far. He followed it up with 843 yards in 2020.

After his injury, the Cowboys still signed him to a five-year deal worth $57.5 million. It made sense at the time if he was going to help the team make up for lost production when Amari Cooper left. Now, it makes much less sense.

The team is also releasing former first-round draft pick Leighton Vander Esch.

More on the 2024 NFL offseason, free agency

The NFL 2024 calendar year begins at 4 p.m. ET on March 13. At that time, contracts running through 2023 officially run out, making those players free agents. Prior to the beginning of free agency, teams will have a chance to designate one franchise or transition tag player, starting on Feb. 20 at 4 p.m. ET and ending on March 5. Beginning March 11 through March 13 teams can enter into a legal negotiation with players who will become unrestricted free agents.

In addition to NFL free agency, the new year also marks the beginning of all trades being made official by the league office. April 19 marks the deadline to sign restricted free agents to offer sheets. On April 24, the deadline for teams to match restricted free agent offers sheets hits. Following the restricted free agent deadline follows the 2024 NFL Draft, which runs from April 25-27.