You remember the 2018 NFL Draft, right? It was the year of the quarterbacks. Baker, Sam Darnold, Josh Allen—everyone was looking at the guys under center. But tucked away in the third round, the Dallas Cowboys snagged a kid out of Colorado State named Michael Gallup. At the time, if you were hunting for a Michael Gallup rookie card, you were probably just trying to complete a team set or betting on him to be the next great Dallas WR2.
He actually delivered. Honestly, people forget how good Gallup was before the injuries started piling up. In 2019, he put up over 1,100 yards. He was a contested-catch machine. Now that it’s 2026, Gallup’s career has taken a weird turn with retirements and attempted comebacks with teams like the Raiders and Commanders. Because he isn't a superstar in the headlines anymore, his market is basically in the bargain bin.
But for a collector? That is exactly where the fun starts.
The Big Three: Which Michael Gallup Rookie Card Actually Matters?
If you're looking to grab a piece of Gallup’s legacy, you can’t just buy any random base card. You’ve got to be smart about the "Big Three" in the modern hobby: Prizm, Optic, and National Treasures.
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The 2018 Panini Prizm Michael Gallup #226 is the bread and butter. It’s the card everyone wants for their registry. If you find a Silver Prizm version, that’s the "true" rookie for most modern collectors. Back in his prime, a PSA 10 Silver might have cost you a decent chunk of change, but nowadays? You can find them for less than a decent steak dinner.
Then you have Donruss Optic. Specifically, the Rated Rookie #174. I’ve always liked the look of Optic more than Prizm—the "on-card" look of the Chrome finish just feels cleaner. If you’re feeling spicy, look for the "Holo" or the "Aqua" parallels numbered to /299. They have a pop of color that really stands out in a display case.
For the high rollers—or what's left of them in the Gallup market—it’s all about National Treasures. The Michael Gallup RPA (Rookie Patch Auto) is the holy grail. We’re talking about a card numbered to /99 with a massive chunk of a game-worn jersey and a hard-signed autograph. I saw one of these sell recently for under $200. Compare that to a CeeDee Lamb or Justin Jefferson RPA, and you’ll realize just how much of a "discount" you’re getting on a guy who was once a legit NFL starter.
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Why the Market Tanked (and Why You Should Care)
Let’s be real. The hobby is driven by "what have you done for me lately." Gallup’s late-career trajectory was, frankly, a bummer. The ACL tear in early 2022 changed everything. He lost that explosive verticality that made his 2019 season so special.
By the time he was bouncing around the Raiders and Commanders in 2024 and 2025, the hobby had moved on. Investors moved their money into guys like Marvin Harrison Jr. or whatever rookie QB was lighting up the scoreboard.
But here is the thing: Dallas Cowboys cards always have a floor. The "America's Team" tax is a real thing. There will always be Cowboys fans building out their "All-Time" rosters. When a guy like Gallup retires (for good this time), he becomes a nostalgia piece. Ten years from now, a Cowboys fan is going to look at his 2018 Panini Contenders Rookie Ticket and remember those crazy sideline catches against the Giants.
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Hidden Gems for the Budget Collector
If you don't want to spend $100 on an RPA, there are some weirdly cool cards out there that most people ignore.
- 2018 Panini Origins: These cards look like actual paintings. The on-card autos in this set are gorgeous. You can usually find a Michael Gallup Origins auto for $15-$25. That’s insane value for an on-card autograph from a 1,000-yard receiver.
- 2018 Panini Select: I love the "levels" in Select. The "Field Level" cards are the rarest, and a Silver Prizm Field Level Gallup is a tough find. It’s a "low pop" card that actually has some scarcity.
- Donruss "The Rookies": This is a classic insert. It’s not a "true" rookie card in the eyes of some purists, but it has that iconic 80s/90s throwback vibe that looks great in a binder.
What Most People Get Wrong About Grading Gallup
Don't go grading every base Michael Gallup rookie card you find in a shoebox. It’s a waste of money. The "grading fee" will literally be worth more than the card itself.
Unless it’s a Prizm Silver, an Optic Holo, or a low-numbered Auto, keep it raw. If you're buying, look for "raw" copies that look centered. The 2018 Prizm set was notorious for having bad centering and "dimples" on the surface. If you can find a clean copy for $5, it’s a much better play than paying $50 for a PSA 9 that someone else already picked over.
The Actionable Game Plan
If you're actually looking to buy right now, here is what I would do:
- Scour eBay for "Lots": Often, collectors will sell a "Michael Gallup Rookie Lot" with 5-10 cards including a few parallels. You can often snag these for $10-15 total. It’s the cheapest way to build a collection.
- Target the "True" RPA: If you want one "big" card, go for the National Treasures or the Immaculate Collection RPA. These are the cards that hold value over decades, not months.
- Focus on the Cowboys Uniform: Gallup had a brief stint elsewhere, but his Cowboys cards are the only ones that will ever have a secondary market. Don't bother with later-year cards in other jerseys unless you just like the player.
Basically, Gallup is the perfect "low-risk, high-nostalgia" buy. You aren't going to get rich off him, but you can own some of the most beautiful cards of the late 2010s for the price of a movie ticket. In a hobby that usually feels like a high-stakes casino, there's something nice about just collecting a guy who could really play the game.