Raiders free agency: 5 things about Michael Gallup

Getting to know veteran wide receiver

The Las Vegas Raiders’ added wide receiver Michael Gallup in free agency this offseason.

We will be getting to know him more very quickly, but here are five aspects of Gallup the player and person that Raiders fans should know:

Overcoming injuries:

Gallup, 28, missed eight games in 2021 and and three games in 2022. He did play every game in 2023, but he was a backup. If he can maintain his health, perhaps he can increase his production.

He has produced:

The Raiders are getting a player who had 34 receptions for 418 yards in 2023. It was hiss second lowest catch total in six NFL season and the lowest yardage total of his career. But Gallup was pretty productive before injuries struck in 2021. In 2019, his second NFL season, Gallup had 66 yards for 1,107 yards (for an impressive 16.8 per catch yardage total). In 2020, Gallup had 59 catches for 843 yards. He was targeted more than 100 times in both the 2019 and ‘20 seasons. So, he has been a major contributor in the league.

What to expect at this point:

It’s been a while since has been a top performer, but if Gallup can stay healthy, he does have chops. Plus, the Raiders aren’t looking for all that much from Gallup. He was signed because they need reliable depth behind starters Davante Adams and Jakobi Myers. He will compete with second-year player Tre Tucker to be the third receiver. So, barring any injuries to the starters, the Raiders will be looking for occasional help from Gallup.

Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post via Getty Images

College star:

Gallup transferred to Colorado State from Butler Community College in Kansas in 2016. He had 11 starts and finished the season with 76 catches and tied for the conference lead with 1,272 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns. In 2017, Gallup surpass those nice numbers by registering a school-record 100 catches for 1,413 yards and seven touchdowns. He was a finalist for the Fred Biletnikoff award, which, of course, his named the the Raiders’ legend which goes to the best receiver in college football.

Four sport star in high school:

Gallup is from Monroe, Georgia and he was a high school standout in football, of course. But he also played basketball, baseball and ran track. So, he is a supreme athlete.