The Redskins have informed free agent edge rusher Junior Galette that he will not be re-signed, as Washington senior vice president for personnel Doug Williams told Liz Clarke of the Washington Post.
“I did tell him we were going in another direction, and he was very thankful,” Williams said. “He had two Achilles’ injuries, and we stuck by him. We gave him a chance, and he’s very appreciative of it. He told me, ‘Thank you. If it wasn’t for you, I don’t know whether I’d still be here,’ so it was a good conversation.”
Galette, of course, was once a double-digit sack force with the Saints from 2013-14, but injuries and off-field issues have turned him into more a rotational player. After suffering those aforementioned torn Achilles tendons in both 2015 and 2016, Galette finally got in a full season with the Redskins in 2017, and played extremely well on 37% of the club’s defensive snaps.
While he only posted three sacks, Galette managed 25 pressures and graded as the league’s No. 30 edge defender among 106 qualifiers, per Pro Football Focus. Reports recently indicated Washington was working to retain Galette, but Redskins always expected another team to make a better offer. Washington has already lost one free agent pass rusher this offseason, as Trent Murphy inked a three-year deal with Buffalo.
Galette, who turns 30 years old on Tuesday, isn’t wanting for interest, as he’s reportedly drawn the eye of both the Rams and Browns.