WEDNESDAY, 9:18am: Washington has officially confirmed its new deal with Galette, announcing the signing in a press release.
TUESDAY, 8:57pm: Junior Galette will be staying in the nation’s capital for at least one more season. The linebacker and Washington have agreed to a one-year deal worth up to $4MM, according to Mike Florio of PFT (on Twitter). Galette’s market was limited this month because Washington had a right of first refusal. This time around, however, there is no such provision in Galette’s deal, so the linebacker can reach free agency unencumbered.
Galette was reportedly intent on signing a one-year, “pillow” contract, similar to the deal he signed with Washington last season after being cut by the Saints. The club, however, was countering with multi-year proposals featuring incentives. Those longer deals were being recommended by agent Peter Schaffer and that disagreement led to the linebacker changing representation. One thing that Galette was clear about was that he would not sign a deal for the veteran’s minimum under any circumstances.
“[Washington is] who my heart is with,” said Galette in February. “I just want a one-year deal, and it has to be a fair deal. I’m not putting a number out there, but it has to be fair.”
Washington signed Galette in July of last year, despite having spent recent second-round draft picks on Trent Murphy (2014) and Preston Smith (2015). Off-field issues played a role in New Orleans releasing him, but Washington believed that Galette made sense as an addition due to his football ability. Unfortunately, Galette tore his Achilles in August. The 27-year-old (28 in a few weeks) was New Orleans’ best pass rusher in 2013 and 2014, recording 12 sacks in ’13 and picking up another 10 – along with three forced fumbles – in ’14.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.