Almost any other season, a team’s first-round draft pick is going to be the most important rookie on the roster. Often, they are drafted to the position with the greatest immediate need. But for the 2018 Dallas Cowboys, third-round Wide Receiver Michael Gallup is the guy that the team needs most.
Dallas drafted Linebacker Leighton Vander Esch in the first round of last April’s draft. In the second round they took Offensive Lineman Connor Williams. The Cowboys hope both will have starting roles on this year’s team.
But given the other talent at those positions, it’s receiver where Dallas most needs a rookie to excel.
For Vander Esch in 2018, his ceiling is probably to start in the base 4-3 defense and then rotate in the nickel scheme. That means pushing Damien Wilson to the bench, but still having to push for reps with Sean Lee and Jaylon Smith when the team only has two linebackers on the field.
That’s no small role, and especially if Leighton end up as the starting middle linebacker. But Dallas, like most NFL teams, uses their nickel scheme more than any other.
Vander Esch’s importance is almost more about potential injury to Sean or Jaylon, where he can hopefully step in and perform quickly. But if those two stay healthy, Vander Esch may not have a much bigger role than Damien Wilson did last year.
Second-round pick Connor Williams is going to get the first crack at being the team’s new starting left guard. You could easily make a case that that’s more important than the role Vander Esch will have this year.
But Dallas has a lot of options if Williams doesn’t immediately excel.
They could flip Right Tackle La’el Collins back to guard and try Connor at his college position of tackle. They might also start veteran Cameron Fleming at RT and make Williams a versatile reserve.
Dallas also has veterans Chaz Green, Joe Looney, and Marcus Martin on the roster competing at guard.
These options make Williams’ success less critical to the 2018 Cowboys. As with Vander Esch, there’s a cushion for if the rookie doesn’t show up right away.
Given the state of things at receiver, Michael Gallup doesn’t have that same cushion.
Without the rookie, Dallas has Allen Hurns, Cole Beasley, Terrance Williams, Deonte Thompson, as the only established players on the WR depth chart. Each one has a red flag.
Hurns has never succeeded as the top receiver in an offense. His best years in Jacksonville were when Allen Robinson was WR1 and Hurns could do damage with less attention. He needs other guys to keep defenses honest to be effective.
The same goes for Beasley, who had a strong season in 2016 but then wilted last year when teams realized he was the bigger threat than Dez Bryant or Jason Witten. Cole was effectively taken out by opposing defensive coordinators, dropping to the fourth on the team in catches.
Terrance Williams is the guy Dallas probably wish they could cut but whose contract makes it unprofitable. His recent personal issues, on top of years of underwhelming play, don’t inspire confidence that he can help balance the offense.
Deonte Thompson broke out a little with the Buffalo Bills last year despite their overall passing issues, but he’s 29 and didn’t do anything between 2012-2016. He’s a vertical threat who might help in some situations, but is doubtful as a major piece of the offense.
This is why Dallas needs Michael Gallup to show up right now. Without some new spark in the passing game, next season could be unfortunately similar to 2017.
While a full season from Ezekiel Elliott will hopefully make life easier for Dak Prescott this year, the Cowboys’ quarterback still needs receiver who can make defenses nervous. None of the players we just talked about will do that, lacking the cache of Bryant or Witten from a few years ago.
While a full season from Ezekiel Elliott will hopefully make life easier for Dak Prescott this year, the Cowboys’ quarterback still needs receiver who can make defenses nervous. None of the players we just talked about will do that, lacking the cache of Bryant or Witten from a few years ago.
Of course, we recognize that Michael Gallup is just a third-round draft pick. Expecting him to come in and immediately change the fortune of the offense could be asking way too much.
That doesn’t change need, though. Dallas can afford for Leighton Vander Esch or Connor Williams to take a year to develop. But if Gallup doesn’t show up right away, we could see a lot more of guys not getting open and Prescott getting flustered.
Hopefully, the absence of Dez and Jason this year will make the Cowboys less predictable. It will keep defenses guessing enough to help all of these players take advantage.
But nothing will help more than an infusion of new, exciting talent. If Michael can make an early impact, teams will have to adjust. That will open the door much wider for his teammates.
Again, it may be asking too much. We get that.
But that’s reality for the 2018 Dallas Cowboys. They just lost two future Ring of Honor members from the passing game and the two most targeted players from last year’s offense.
Do you really want Terrance Williams trying to fill that void? Of course not.
While Leighton Vander Esch, Connor Williams, or even fourth-round rookie Tight End Dalton Schultz could make major impacts on the 2018 Cowboys, there is less risk if they don’t. It’s at receiver where Dallas suffers most if their rookie addition doesn’t perform.
Therefore, for 2018, Michael Gallup is the most important rookie on the Dallas Cowboys.
