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Daily Slop – 24 Mar 25 – What’s the best-case scenario for Michael Gallup and the Commanders?

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NFC Wild Card Playoffs - Green Bay Packers v Dallas Cowboys
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Michael Gallup: Best and worst case scenarios

He was once a 1,000-yard receiver but went three consecutive seasons without reaching 500 before hanging it up. But hey, he was banged up. So what can Commanders fans make out of it?

It’s a classic low-risk, high-reward gamble from the Commanders front office that will ultimately come down to Gallup’s health. After tearing his ACL toward the end of the 2021 NFL season, he has never fully bounced back. Hopefully, we get to add “until now” to that last sentence in a few months.

Best case scenario:

If Gallup has healed ahead of his return to football though, let me clear: He can give the Commanders a starting-caliber starter for the 2025 season to complement Terry McLaurin and Deebo Samuel.

At his best, Gallup was a solid WR2 and a great WR3. Though he’s not much taller than McLaurin, he plays bigger than his size. In Dallas, his specialty was being an X-type receiver who could win one-on-one consistently and make great contested catches. His speed was an asset in vertical routes and he had a knack for making the toughest sideline grabs.

Worst case scenario:

Simply put, Gallup isn’t a lock to make the 53-man roster. His play as a Cowboy declined to the point of ending up as a designated Post June 1st cut last year and that was when it became clear he wasn’t the same. His success in contested grabs fell off a cliff and he simply wasn’t the same imposing figure on the field.

A year away from football hopefully made him reset but this is a gamble and the Commanders might just lose it.

ESPN

Commanders 2025 free agency tracker: Offseason moves, signings

Eddie Goldman, DT

The veteran comes over from the Atlanta Falcons on a one-year deal.

What it means: Washington needed size inside and added more by landing Goldman. The Commanders released tackle Jonathan Allen so needed more depth to rotate with Daron Payne and Jer’Zhan Newton. Goldman was a terrific run stopper early in his Bears career; Washington ranked 28th in rushing yards allowed per carry so it needs help. The Commanders also signed defensive lineman Javon Kinlaw.

What’s the risk: Minimal. Washington needed help inside, and it’s only a one-year deal. The Commanders need more youth along the front, and that quest should not be abandoned after this signing. They need Goldman to be the run stopper he was earlier in his career. If they want to beat Philadelphia, the run defense must improve.

Deatrich Wise, DE

Wise joins from New England on a one-year deal worth $5 million.

What it means: Washington needed defensive end depth and someone who can play the run. Wise has some pass-rush ability, but his ability to play with power should help a group that ranked 30th vs. the run in 2024. He had 34 career sacks in eight seasons with New England. But he also was a three-time captain in New England and can add strong leadership to his group as well as the entire defense.

What’s the risk: Minimal. The deal is only for $5 million, so he’s not being paid like a starter. He also offers enough to help. The risk would be if Washington does not draft someone at this position. They have no young ends who project as starters. Washington needs young defensive talent to develop, but Wise won’t get in the way of that and can provide help along the way.

Hogs Haven

A defense of the “microwaved rebuild”

Maximize the window, Minimize the commitment

As mentioned prior, Commanders traded for marquee names and signed plenty of veterans. But can be overlooked are most deals end no later than 2027. Additionally, if the traded veterans don’t perform up to task, they can be released with little or no dead money as soon as the following offseason.

Being part of the San Francisco 49ers, Adam Peters is aware that the window to competitiveness is not guaranteed to be open years down the line. Opportunities now can be gone next season. Don’t wait until teams, especially divisional opponents are fully prepared to counter. Strike while the iron is hot.

Draft selections can be recouped

A point that is often mentioned but worth repeating. Given Peters willingness to flip draft selections over his tenure, it would not be hard to imagine that he could turn the #29 and #61 selections into a larger collection of Day 2-3 picks and possibly future ones. Peters still has the major chess pieces to acquire more talent to continue the rebuild.

Missing talent

There is a talent and personnel gap Washington still needs to fill after one season. As mentioned during the season, none of Washington’s first round picks from the Rivera era is on the team. The only drafted first round selections by Washington are Daron Payne (2018) and Jayden Daniels (2024). And during this offseason, John Bates joined Sam Cosmi as the only Rivera drafted players who were extended.

With the addition of Quan Martin and Brian Robinson, only 4 players drafted by Rivera are regular contributors. In contrast, Peters’ first draft class already has 4 regular contributors (Daniels, Sainristil, Newton, Coleman) with hopefully others stepping up in next season. With little help coming from Rivera’s selections, Peters will have to rely on the vets to be the stopgap for another season until the draftees are ready.

Jayden Daniels

Pretty obvious. If Daniels didn’t look ready for the moment, then the trades wouldn’t have been made.

Riggo’s Rag

NFL Draft analyst believes Commanders should avoid LB Demetrius Knight Jr.

The analyst named Demetrius Knight Jr. as a prospect the Commanders should avoid. Wasserman didn’t rule out Washington taking another development project further down the pecking order, but Peters has other priorities with their first-round pick at No. 29 overall.

“While the Commanders have several defensive uncertainties, their linebacker situation is more stable, with Bobby Wagner and Frankie Luvu leading the unit. That makes linebacker far less likely to be a first-round priority compared to edge rusher or cornerback. Washington could still look for a young linebacker to develop behind Wagner, but that’s more likely to come in the middle rounds rather than on Day 1.”

Dalton Wasserman

Nothing can be completely dismissed. Wagner performed at a high-level last season, but the perennial All-Pro doesn’t have long left before retirement. The Commanders remain keen to see if Jordan Magee can develop after an injury-hit rookie campaign. However, it would be a surprise if another linebacker wasn’t acquired between now and when Week 1 rolls around.

Knight is the right on the first-round border after an outstanding college career at South Carolina, Charlotte, and Georgia Tech. He’s coped well with the increased competitiveness over his football journey, coming of age over the last two seasons to cement himself among the most gifted second-level prospects in this year’s class. He’s a talented player, but it doesn’t seem likely he’ll be in Washington all things considered.

The Commanders are running it back with Frankie Luvu and Wagner after both earned second-team All-Pro honors in 2024. Finding an explosive edge rusher or another productive cornerback could be a realistic possibility, although Peters would probably like to trade out of the first round entirely to acquire more assets.

Podcasts & videos

Commanders MOCK DRAFT Continues Adam Peters-Era Roster Build

NFC East links

Blogging the Boys

This one offseason mistake could really come back to bite the Cowboys

[Cooper] Rush is gone. His departure doesn’t bring about much sadness for Cowboys’ fans. The Baltimore Ravens signed him to a two-year, $6.2 million deal (with incentives that could raise the value to $12 million) to hang out behind their All-Pro quarterback Lamar Jackson.

Rush signing elsewhere leaves a hole at the backup quarterback position for the Cowboys. After that incredible four-year start where he never missed a game, Dak has missed time in four of his last five seasons. In two of those seasons, he’s missed at least half the season. He’s missed a total of 24 games in five years. The Cowboys have been without Prescott 30% of the time over the last half-decade.

And it’s not likely to get much better. Prescott will be 32 when the season starts. Assuming he plays at least six games this upcoming season, he will surpass Tony Romo and have the second most starts at quarterback for the Cowboys, trailing only Troy Aikman.

Currently, Will Grier is the team’s backup. Similar to Rush, Grier gets a second chance in Dallas. He was originally signed in 2021 after DiNucci was released. He never saw action with the Cowboys and was released when the team traded for Trey Lance. Speaking of Lance, the team spent a fourth-round draft pick gambling on his potential, only to realize what the San Francisco 49ers already knew. He just doesn’t have it.

The Cowboys’ plan at backup QB is unclear. There’s not much left to choose from in free agency as 16 backups have already been signed. The best free agent backup QB left on the market is the 40-year-old Joe Flacco. That means the team’s best chance to get a viable backup is April’s draft, however, that could be a little tricky as well.

The good news is the Cowboys have some extra Day 3 picks thanks to compensatory picks, but these picks are so late in the draft that the top 10 college prospects should be gone by then. That means the Cowboys are grasping at straws to find a quality quarterback late in the draft.

Big Blue View

Ed’s 7-round New York Giants mock draft: A different option at quarterback for the Giants

Round 3 (No. 65) — Tyler Shough, QB, Louisville

Shough’s seven-year college odyssey ends with him as the Giants’ potential quarterback of the future. Todd McShay believes Shough could be the best quarterback to come out of this draft. I don’t know about that, but I know when I watch him I see a Round 1 talent. Shough is great value here. McShay has Shough with an identical grade to that of Jaxson Dart.

Now, I can’t scout the way Chris and Nick can. But, when I look at Shough I see a guy who would be in the QB2 argument if it wasn’t for his age.

33rd Team says:

Louisville Cardinals quarterback Tyler Shough projects as a toolsy, mature developmental quarterback who, in the right environment, could serve as a viable bridge quarterback. He’s seen a lot of football, thanks to a laundry list of season-ending injuries that preserved his college eligibility. Still, he enjoyed a productive final season during his one and only year at Louisville.

Shough is a fluid athlete with notable arm talent, but his durability and decision-making under pressure loom as threats that could prevent him from ever living up to his potential behind center.

Big Blue View rules for draft success, 2025 edition

1. Draft ‘value’ over perceived need

I always push back against the idea that the Giants need to take position A in Round 1, position B in Round 2, position C in Round 3, etc. That is how you make mistakes — how you leave better players on the board while selecting lesser ones.

Truth is, you are never certain what your ‘needs’ are going to be in any given NFL season. You never know where injuries may strike, or where players already on your roster may underperform or overperform expectations.

2. If you don’t have a franchise quarterback, get one

3. Do not take running backs in Round 1 … unless they are a finishing piece

4. When in doubt, draft a lineman

This applies to both the offensive and defensive lines.

I don’t care how pass-happy the NFL gets or how much the rules change, the game is still won and lost along the front lines.

5. Trade down, not up

There are very few times when any player is worth trading up for, thus causing a team to mortgage valuable draft picks. You need depth in the NFL, and you can’t accumulate it by trading away your draft choices — which is what you have to do to move up. Generally, it is better to move down and accumulate more draft choices than to move up and wind up with less.

6. Don’t ignore your strengths

Truth is, you never know in April exactly what your needs will be during the season. Talent wins in the NFL. Take the best players who you believe fit what you are trying to do. Along the way, hope that value meets need and your decisions are correct often enough that you don’t enter the season with too many glaring deficiencies.

For Discussion

Pro Football Talk

Pittsburgh’s negotiating proposal doesn’t go far enough

Currently, the rules permit direct communication during the 52-hour window only with players who are not represented by NFLPA-certified agents. Also, no travel arrangements of any kind can be made until after the official start of the league year.

Both rules are routinely violated.

If the rules are going to change, we’d suggest something more meaningful. Before the negotiating window opens, why not allow visits?

As it stands, players agree to contracts without ever, in plenty of cases, setting foot in the team facility. They don’t meet the team, the team doesn’t meet them. It’s a crappy way of doing business, but it’s the way business traditionally gets done. Because free agency is always a feeding frenzy of matching available players with available jobs.

It would make sense for everyone to make a change that is more than cosmetic. So while we like the idea of the Steelers thinking about new ways to handle the pre-free agency process, they (and everyone else) should be thinking bigger.

Have a week (or so) for visits. Then allow formal negotiations that result in deals being down.

Spring Football

ESPN

UFL 2025: Teams, logos, coaches, stadiums, key players

DC Defenders

Barlow returns to the Defenders after leading them to 4-6 mark in 2024. Prior to DC, Barlow compiled an 83-58 record as a coach at Alabama State and Virginia State over 13 seasons.

Ta’amu is back after starting all 10 games and ranking second in the UFL in passing yards. Rowland, an All-UFL choice as a returner, added 20 receptions for 262 yards and three touchdowns. Baker, a 2019 NFL first-round pick, also was All-UFL.

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