The Washington Commanders on Monday released wide receiver Michael Gallup in a move that the San Francisco 49ers should have an eye on.
Gallup, 29, entered the NFL in 2018 as a third-round pick of the Dallas Cowboys. He retired at the start of last season and tried kickstarting his career again with the Commanders this offseason. If he’s still looking for a landing spot to try and contribute to an NFL team, the 49ers may have that exact type of opportunity.
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San Francisco is dealing with some significant issues at wide receiver in large part due to injury and the depletion of any depth they might’ve had. They wouldn’t necessarily need Gallup to shoulder a major workload. They could use some veteran help down the depth chart or on the practice squad, though.
Gallup in 2023, his last full NFL season, hauled in 34 catches for 418 yards and two touchdowns for the Cowboys.
Jauan Jennings could be ready by Week 1 and sitting atop the depth chart with Ricky Pearsall. The 49ers traded for Skyy Moore whose value as a receiver is a major question mark. Outside of that they’re leaning on veterans like Russell Gage or Robbie Chosen to fill snaps in the first few weeks until rookie Jordan Watkins is back from injury and veteran Demarcus Robinson is back from suspension.
There may not be much left in the tank for Gallup, but he certainly fits the mold of a veteran WR to fill the back end of the depth chart. Gage hasn’t played in an NFL game since 2022 (a year where Gallup had 424 yards and four touchdowns), and Chosen has only 25 catches and 413 yards since that same season.
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Perhaps they’re happy with their in-house options, but Gallup gives them an opportunity to improve at a position that is full of question marks entering the regular season.
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This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: Commanders release WR Michael Gallup, 49ers should have interest