Washington Redskins:Junior Galette should be re-signed at right price

The Redskins have a lot of free agents in 2018. Junior Galette is one Washington should think long and hard about keeping — for the right price, of course.

The Washington Redskins signed Junior Galette three years ago after he was surprisingly released from the New Orleans Saints one year after signing a lucrative four-year extension. Off-field concerns played a part in Galette’s release and Washington took a chance on him just before training camp in 2015. Unfortunately, just before he was set to report to training camp, Galette ruptured is Achilles’ tendon and was out for the season.

Perhaps, out of loyalty or a lack of market elsewhere, Galette chose to re-sign with the Redskins. In a sad twist of fate, Galette ruptured his other Achilles just before training camp in 2016 and again missed the season.

In February 2017, Galette signed another one-year deal with the Redskins and actually appeared in all 16 games in 2017. A quick look at the stat sheet and you wouldn’t be too impressed with Galette’s debut season in Washington. He accrued just three sacks and finished with 20 total tackles. However, a closer look at Galette’s season and you see a player who was on the verge of a breakout.

According to Matt Harmon of NFL.com, the Redskins were the second-best pass-rushing unit in the NFL behind only the Philadelphia Eagles in 2017. Harmon uses Next-Gen stats to support his list. Per Harmon’s description, Next-Gen stats define a “pressure” as a pass-rushing play in which a defender gets within 2 yards of the opposing quarterback at the time of the throw or sack.

Using this metric, Galette was one of the most effective pass-rushers in the league despite a lack of snaps. Of all defenders who had at least 200 pass-rushing plays, Galette ranked No. 3 in the league with a 15.1 percent pressure rate in just 219 plays. Of the top 12 players on the list, Galette had far fewer opportunities than anyone else. The two players Galette trailed were his teammate, Preston Smith, and Demarcus Lawrence of Dallas who could soon see the franchise tag.

One thing is for sure, if you have pass-rushers, you keep them. The biggest thing facing Washington is how much do they pay for Galette? Ryan Kerrigan is Washington’s top rusher and he is under a long-term deal. Smith is entering his fourth year and will likely soon be the target of a long-term extension. Ryan Anderson was a second-round draft choice in 2017. Trent Murphy, who missed all of 2017 and is also a free agent, is expected to return and he had nine sacks in 2016.

So, is there enough room for Galette? Absolutely, but there has to be a price. Galette proved he could get pressure in 2017. Unfortunately, he didn’t finish enough plays. However, he was close. And he certainly deserved more opportunities. Will those opportunities come in Washington?

Galette certainly hopes so. In a conversation with the Grant and Danny Show of 106.7 The Fan in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, Galette said he wants to remain with the Redskins, but he believes the team wants him to test the free-agent market.

For as much criticism as Washington’s front office receives — and deservedly so — this is the right strategy. Galette is a good player and he could provide a major impact given more opportunities next year. But the Redskins have some depth at outside linebacker and can wait out the market and see what Galette’s true value is. That’s good business.

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The team should certainly be meeting with Galette’s representatives about a potential return. At least let the player know he is wanted back. If the market is cold for Galette, the team could get him back on another team-friendly deal. If Galette hits free agency and finds a team willing to give him some guaranteed money, then he wins.

You can never have too many pass-rushers and that’s why Galette should be back in Washington in 2018 — at the right price.