Redskins add Junior Galette

The Washington Redskins think they may finally have their desired pass rush in tact and are on their way to producing a contending defensive front seven.

The team signed outside linebacker Junior Galette to their roster on Friday, after the Saints released him this week following the leak of a 2013 video that shows him allegedly beating a woman with a belt in Miami.

Galette will receive $745,000, the one-year minimum for a four-year veteran.

"This deal isn't about the money," agent Alvin Keels said. "Junior feels that he has a lot to prove both on and off of the field."

The signature comes after the Redskins hosted him to their camp as it opened in Richmond to give him a physical and get a feel of what, if anything, the NFL would do punishment-wise after that video's revelation.

"Whatever the decision is, we'll live with it," Redskins head coach Jay Gruden said.

Galette had been the best pass rusher for the Saints in recent years, notching 22 sacks in his last two seasons. He was given a four-year contract extension worth $41 million for that effort, but the latest in a series of off-field incidents, and what they thought was an overall lack of professionalism, gave them enough reason to part ways.

Enough reason, also, for the Saints to take a $17 million salary cap hit just to get rid of him. That kind of attitude makes one wonder what Washington sees in him.

Redskins G.M. Scot McCloughan had made a point in his first year with the club that he would avoid drafting or signing any players who had character issues, saying "thanks, but no thanks" to pass rusher Randy Gregory in April's draft. But McCloughan also said he would tenuously make an exception if the right leadership were in place to guide that prospective player.

After rewarding Ryan Kerrigan with a multi-year extension on Wednesday, the Redskins feel they have that leadership right where they want it, so were willing to take a risk on Galette.

But what the Saints say he lacks in maturity, he makes up for between the lines. A deeply passionate player and hard worker, Galette is a commodity any franchise would place high value on. 

Pro Football Focus ranked Galette their fifth-overall pass rusher last season. Though his play is up-and-down, he can get to opposing quarterbacks with relative ease and can disrupt the pocket. An area of improvement could be against the rush -- he has the habit of over-pursuing the backfield and ending up late against quick handoffs. 

Those skills will come in handy for a Redskins defensive unit that allowed 8.2 yards per attempt through the air, second-worst in football, snagged only seven interceptions, the second-fewest, and allowed 35 thrown touchdowns, the most.

But there's one place Galette could help improve this team immediately: sacks.

Washington secured 36 sacks last season, among the bottom third of all teams. If Galette plays anywhere near as well as he did last year (10 sacks), he, along with Kerrigan's 13.5 tally from 2014, could propel the Redskins into the top-5 league-wide in sacks.

That combination of getting into the pocket and sealing the deal is an element that may find the Redskins sneaking up from fourth place in the NFC East this season.