You could make the case that re-signing linebacker Junior Galette was the best move made by Washington Redskins general manager Scot McCloughan in free agency this offseason. Though Galette comes with off-field question marks and on-field concerns following an Achilles injury last year, he does add a pass-rushing element that Washington desperately needs.
Washington finished the 2015 season as a middle-of-the pack team in terms of generating pressure and finishing. The team recorded 38.0 total sacks last year, tied for 14th-most in the NFL. That's not bad, but it's not very good either. If healthy, Galette can help change the dynamic of this defense.
"Coming off an Achilles, for a guy with explosion, it'll be interesting," McCloughan said last week. "That's why the one-year deal from our standpoint made sense. Does he still have the same twitch, the same ability to get upfield, which I believe he does."
If he does, the Redskins are suddenly looking at a fearsome trio of pass-rushers in the front seven. Mainstay Ryan Kerrigan is a relentless, high-motor guy who notched 9.5 sacks and two forced fumbles last year and Preston Smith led all rookies with eight sacks. Throw Galette into the mix and opposing quarterbacks suddenly have something to worry about.
The linebacker looked great in training camp last year before suffering his season-ending injury. If he can return to form, he'll be a difference maker at a fraction of the cost of fellow free agent pass-rushers. The New York Giants gave Olivier Vernon $85 million with $40 million guaranteed. The Jacksonville Jaguars gave Malik Jackson $85.5 million with $42 million guaranteed. Galette is playing on a one-year deal worth up to $4.1 million.
"There were some other good pass-rushers in free agency," Redskins coach Jay Gruden said. "But we felt like getting Junior back would be like an added free agent because we didn't have him. Great pass-rusher, got to get him healthy obviously. He's working his butt off to get healthy. And he's going to be a huge, huge help to us on third down next year."
Galette gives the team a flexibility that they didn't have before. All three outside linebackers can now be moved around the formation and rush from different spots. Trent Murphy, a 2014 second-rounder, may also be moved to defensive end to help with versatility.
"He gives us an edge guy, which is huge," McCloughan said of Galette. "We have Kerrigan, who is a really good player. We have Preston, who is a really good player. We've got Murphy that's a solid player. Now you have Junior and [offensive] coordinators have to weigh who's on the field and where he's coming from. That's important. Pass rush is huge in the NFL."
None of that will preclude the Redskins from continuing to add help in that area in the upcoming 2016 NFL Draft, which is considered a deep one for valuable defensive line talent.
"We have a lot of bodies in there that can get after the quarterback," Gruden said. "Now it's a matter of putting them in the right place and getting them going."
The hope is that Galette can be a catalyst for just that.
Follow Brandon Katz at @Great_Katzby
