Is Signing Controversial Junior Galette Worth the Risk for Washington?

Exactly one week prior to Friday, it was impossible to resist entertaining at least a hint of optimism. That's when the New Orleans Saints released outside linebacker Junior Galette, deciding a toxic nature away from the field trumped both his production and, more critically, his paycheck.

The Saints axed Galette even though they paid the 27-year-old $17.95 million since signing him in 2014, according to NFL Network’s Albert Breer. According to Sports Illustrated's Chris Burke, the move meant the Saints would absorb a $12.1 million dead-money salary-cap hit for 2016.

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As WDSU's Fletcher Mackel also noted, the Saints are still on the hook for $12.5 million in guaranteed cash.

They paid Galette to go away and leave their team forever, despite his pass-rushing talent that’s led to 22 sacks over the past two seasons. The Saints decided sacrificing precious cap dollars and dealing with the gaping hole Galette leaves behind on their front seven were both preferred problems over employing a very flawed individual.

It was a brief, fleeting moment of NFL progress. Often, only those with little to contribute on the field are released in the aftermath of poor off-field conduct. Galette had plenty to offer, and yet he still found himself unemployed.

This lasted one week until the Washington Redskins showed they have other priorities, character poison be damned.

They signed him to a veteran-minimum one-year deal, according to Breer. According to MMQB.com's Peter King, the team made that decision after Galette pleaded with Redskins head coach Jay Gruden to get another chance:

Galette was charged with simple battery for domestic violence in January, and although the case was dismissed, the alleged victim then filed a civil lawsuit. Regardless of the outcome there, Galette could still face NFL punishment.

That’s only the beginning, as a beach-brawl video from June 2013 then surfaced. It showed a man who appears to be Galette wildly swinging a belt and at one point striking a woman.

Toss in Galette receiving three misdemeanors following a traffic stop July 7—including one for driving with a suspended license—and he’s accumulated quite the bad-decision trifecta.

So why did the Redskins choose to take on even the moderate risk of a one-year, veteran-minimum contract? Because, as always, production wins over immaturity and general boneheaded conduct.

The risk with Galette’s contract is clearly mitigated by a short-term deal that doesn’t contain any guaranteed money, per Spotrac. The contract language also has another unique element in the Redskins’ favor: They get the first right of refusal if Galette hits the open market in 2016, per NFL.com's Marc Sessler, meaning Washington can match any offer.

A Redskins pass rush that ranked 21st with only 36 sacks in 2014 has now cheaply added a powerful outside linebacker, and he’ll join Ryan Kerrigan to make a formidable tandem.

Galette has consistently collapsed the pocket while recording a pretty incredible 132 total pressures since 2013, including playoffs, per Pro Football Focus.

He can make a significant contribution if his head is aligned properly at all times. But there’s more than just monetary risk associated with signing someone who carries so many flapping character flags.

The possibility of NFL discipline still looms in connection to Galette’s domestic violence lawsuit. In June, the Haiti native told Katherine Terrell of the Times-Picayune he was scheduled to meet with league officials by the end of that month. The league gave no further update when the Times-Picayune’s Evan Woodbery followed up on the matter in late July.

Then there’s his sour, potentially cancerous locker room attitude.

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ESPN.com’s Mike Triplett wrote that Galette's “brash personality” played a role in the Saints’ maturity and chemistry issues in 2014. Even more concerning, he was involved in a pregame fight with nose tackle Brandon Deaderick.

When all of that is taken into account—the link to two alleged incidents of violence against women and Galette’s reportedly overbearing nature—you start to wonder if he’s worth any risk at all.

Even if it’s the controlled kind of risk, and the kind that comes with no concrete dollars attached. Is a player with off-field trouble worth the potential on-field gains? Does his talent justify tolerating character baggage and the threat of dividing a locker room?

Mostly, though, signing Galette should force an instinctive eyebrow raise as you ponder this odd tidbit from Aaron Schatz of Football Outsiders:

The Redskins have pushed to support Kerrigan over the past two years and prepare for fellow outside linebacker Brian Orakpo's eventual departure. They've made pricey draft investments at the position highlighted by two top-50 picks: Trent Murphy (47th overall in 2014) and Preston Smith (38th overall in 2015).

Smith recorded 15 tackles for loss and nine sacks during his final year at Mississippi State. Murphy was effective as a rookie, finishing with three sacks, 15 quarterback hurries and 18 stops while playing only 59.8 percent of the Redskins’ defensive snaps, all per PFF.

Prior to signing Galette, the Redskins had the gift of young, promising depth. Either Smith or Murphy could have continued to develop before sliding into a starting role to replace the departed Orakpo.

There was little urgency to scramble and shove Galette’s character landmines aside in the blind pursuit of wins. Yet Galette is employed again now, one week after another team decided paying him to not play football was the better option.