'We Love Him Here!' Cowboys WR Michael Gallup Evaluates Brandin Cooks Trade

The Cowboys receiving core will be looking different with the addition of Brandin Cooks, but according to Michael Gallup, that's entirely a good thing.

After yet another semi-disappointing offseason, the Dallas Cowboys have already made some roster changes, including letting go of their former franchise running back Ezekiel Elliott. 

While some key pieces in quarterback Dak Prescott, coach Mike McCarthy and even running back Tony Pollard remain set in Dallas, the receiving core is set to look slightly different. But that might not be a very good thing for the Cowboys ... and veteran receiver Michael Gallup certainly seems to think so. 

Michael Gallup is hoping to return to prior form before the injury in 21’

What’re your predictions for the man this season?

880 yards, 7 TDs playing opposite of Lamb and Cooks sounds good to me😤#COWBOYS #DC4L #Dallascowboys

pic.twitter.com/JPokgwkJTQ

— Ej Savage (Boys ‘N the Zone) (@BoysNtheZone) May 17, 2023

In late March, Dallas made a big offseason trade, grabbing vet receiver Brandin Cooks from Houston after he had expressed an unhappiness with that team's dynamic. 

Cooks' change of scenery gives him a chance to once again prove himself to be among the league's best, as he will undoubtedly be looking to hit the 1,000-yard mark for the seventh time in his career. But he also brings more to Dallas than just a strong pass-catching ability.

"Oh man, Brandin Cooks," Gallup said of his new teammate. "He's just bringing knowledge to the whole group, and we love him (here). ... I'm talking about a 10-year vet that has six seasons over 1,000 yards." 

The former Texan rounds out Dallas' receiver trio, comprised of him, Gallup and CeeDee Lamb, who is coming off his most productive season, hitting 1,000 yards himself for the second straight year. 

All three of the Cowboys' starters are capable of racking up 1,000-yard seasons, and if Cooks' addition isn't enough, Gallup has also declared himself as feeling better than ever ahead of for next season, coming off of ACL surgery that limited his abilities on the field. 

"Last year at this time I couldn’t walk," Gallup said. "It’s different now. I feel springy again ... it just feels different. It’s kind of like in the air, I’m smiling every time I walk in.”

And having just a few years of NFL experience, Gallup still has things to learn from vets, especially when it comes to injuries, which he says Cooks has not been shy about preaching to his new team. 

"[Cooks] has been talking to the team about] getting your body right," Gallup said. "That's all he keeps preaching. He talks to everybody. 'When you're done with this, done with that, make sure you stretch.'

"That's one of the biggest things right now. We got in the league for a reason, but he's over here talking about how you stay in the league. That's the knowledge he's bringing."

So, armed with a new trio of receivers, a new offensive coordinator, and a renewed passion, Dallas may be looking up again next season. 

And if you asked Gallup, any success the Cowboys find may be due to their new  veteran teammate who "just wants to win."

"He's been in [the facility] everyday, working, just trying to win," Gallup said. "That's all he wants to do, and he wants to do it as a group." 

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