With his contract set to expire with the Washington Redskins at the end of 2017, Junior Galette has let it be known that he is indeed going to be testing the free agent market in 2018 according to NBC Sports Washington’s citing sources.
For the 29-year-old, playing time has been a crucial part to this decision.
Although he has expressed his satisfaction via social media with not only the fans but the organization, Galette has made it clear that he wants to play and the tweet below from him is a clear example.
After suffering two back-to-back Achilles injuries in 2015 and 2016, Galette is ready to play football. Although he signed a one-year, $800,000 deal with the Redskins this offseason, he has not seen the field much and that is because of the great production from Ryan Kerrigan and Preston Smith.
However, Galette has been really productive on the field. According to Pro Football Focus, Galette has a 79.4 grade. That is average on their grading scale. Kerrigan has a 84 grade and Smith has a 74.6 grade.
(Photo: Derick E. Hingle, USA TODAY Sports)
People need to remember that Galette’s time in New Orleans is where he received some playing time. He was with the team from 2010-2014 and during that span he had 31.5 sacks, 88 tackles, 36 assisted tackles and two safeties as well. He also appeared in 64 games, 30 starts in New Orleans where he compiled four passes defended and even forced five fumbles.
Again though, the lack of playing time for Galette has been the main issue this season for him this season (two sacks in 13 games); someone will pay him well over $800,000 this offseason.
Tampa Bay has been known to swipe up a few former Redskins … they signed receiver DeSean Jackson on a three-year, $35-million contract that includes $20 million guaranteed and then signed Chris Baker on a three-year, $15.75-million contract that includes $9-million guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $5.25- million.
Having the fewest sacks in the league this year with just eight, saying the Bucs’ need a pass rusher is an understatement.
The Colts, Lions, Packers, Bengals, and Chiefs could make a bid at Galette this offseason.
However, eliminating the Redskins from bringing back Galette would be crazy at this point as well. They have gave him a chance this season when no other team really would. So, don’t count the Redskins out as a possible returning destination for Galette in 2018.