Michael Gallup started two seasons in college. He put up over 1,200 yards in both seasons. Should the Chicago Bears draft him?
Michael Gallup is a very underrated wide receiver. He spent two seasons at community college before transferring to Colorado State. At Colorado State he immediately took off, putting up 1,272 yards and 14 touchdowns in his junior year. In his senior year, Gallup put up 100 catches, 1,418 and seven touchdowns. He was a Biletnikoff finalist for the nations best wide receiver and was finally on the draft radar. How high can he climb, and does he fit with the Chicago Bears?
Measurables
Age: 21
School: Colorado State
Strengths
Gallup is a technically sound route runner. He shows nuance and understanding that is going to translate into the next level.
Watch his feet as he is able to get separation below. The quick step to the outside has the cornerback starting off on the wrong foot. Gallup uses that to get inside his defender, eventually blowing by him. This is going to translate to the NFL.
A lot of people are going to knock Gallup for his small school reputation, but he put up five receptions for 81 yards on Alabama. That is with poor quarterback play as well.
Watch below as Gallup shows more technicality and is able to free himself open for a first down. He is selling outside and the Alabama cornerback goes for it. Gallup pushes him away, gets space and has an easy catch for a first down. He created that against an elite defender.
Gallup has a refined route tree as well. He can dig into his bag and get free in a variety of ways with double moves like the play below. At first, it is clear that he is running a curl. The safety crashes in, and Gallup bursts to the middle of the field, making the safety stop and change directions. That is how you create space.
Gallup also has the strength and physicality to go over the middle. He shows it in his run blocking. He also shows it in how he finishes plays with the ball in his hands. He is seeking contact. He ends up out of bounds, but you love that Gallups puts a man on the ground and he is still standing. That shows the fire and strength to move on to the NFL. Gallup also ranked fifth in contested catch rate.
Weaknesses
An issue with Gallup will be his top end speed. He can use the route work and savvy moving to break free but is not the burner who is going to blow past someone without it. Also, while he is good off of the ball to find separation, down the field he is not great making his breaks. He tends to round of posts and outs. If he is not getting space right off of the ball, he is in trouble, and there are times where defenders can recover on him.
Pro Comparison: Pierre Garcon
Garcon dominated lesser competition than Michael Gallup and turned out okay in the NFL. Gallup and Garcon share that ability to get off of the ball and get separation quick due to strong footwork and strength at the line of scrimmage. They are both savvy route runner with a variety of ways to get up in the short passing game and down the field.
Garcon does not have the burner ability down the field. However, he is still able to get up and make plays happen down the field. Garcon is strong with the ball is hands, and it could be argued that Gallup is stronger as a blocker, and potentially in contested catches.
The team that drafts Michael Gallup is going to find a starting wide receiver in the NFL, and they are likely going to be getting a gem in them. If he can follow a career path similar to Pierre Garcon, he would be worthy of where he is likely going to be selected.
A lot of people want the Chicago Bears to go for Calvin Ridley early in the NFL draft. There is no guarantee that Ridley ends up being up better than Michael Gallup. Gallup is younger and bigger than Ridley and can run routes just about as well. The only difference is the logo of school.
Gallup took a different path to get here, but if that means getting him two or three rounds later, that is a bargain. The Bears should wait on a wide receiver and find a guy like Gallup to turn into a reliable wide receiver for the Bears.
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The downside of taking Gallup is his questionable speed. Dontrelle Inman and Cameron Meredith are more of the possession type of receivers. They need a downfield threat. A Desean Jackson type of player. Is James Washington a better fit in this area than Gallup? Potentially. Still, this team has to have their eyes on Gallup as they move forward to the combine.