FRISCO, Texas – For the first time in a long time, the Cowboys' receiver corps is going to have a new look to it in 2018.
As had long been suspected, the Cowboys addressed the future of the position by selecting Colorado State's Michael Gallup in the third round of the NFL draft on Friday.
Gallup is viewed as one of the better receivers in this year's class – but there's no denying the obvious. With Dez Bryant moving on to another team and SMU's Courtland Sutton being drafted 40th overall by Denver, the Cowboys are lacking a prototypical 'X' receiver for the first time in roughly a decade.
If that seems to signal a change in the way the Cowboys view the position, team executive vice president Stephen Jones confirmed it on Friday night.
"You could estimate that there are maybe 10 No. 1 receivers in this league. And you 22 of us have to find another way," Jones said. "Jerry said it, and we've come to grips that we're not going to have a 'No. 1 receiver,' ala Julio, ala A.J. Green, ala Antonio Brown – we're just not going to get it done that way. I don't think there was anyone in this draft that was going to change that for this year."
Listed at 6-0, 205 pounds, Gallup doesn't bring that big-bodied game that Bryant excelled at for so long. Instead, he brings strength and precision route running to a receiver corps that already boasts four experienced veterans.
Where Bryant gave the Cowboys a mismatch and a focal point in the passing game, Gallup fills out a receiver corps that should serve more as a complement to the Dallas run game – which now features the No. 50 overall pick in Connor Williams, not to mention three All-Pro linemen and an All-Pro running back.
"I just don't think we're going to live in a world right now, that we used to live in, with Dez – a true No. 1 guy," Jones said.
Have fun trying to stack the depth chart. The Cowboys signed Allen Hurns, who can play all over the formation, this spring. They also added a deep threat in Deonte Thompson. Then there's the incumbent starters, Terrance Williams and Cole Beasley – not to mention promising youngsters in Ryan Switzer and Noah Brown.
"I'm not coming to replace anybody." Gallup said. "I'm just coming down here to compete, find my role on the team and help win ball games."
That's the goal, and the Cowboys have to feel good about it. But for the first time in a long while, it's going to look a bit different.
