Niner Noise
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NFL free agency: 5 players the 49ers should target in 2018

By Peter Panacy

SANTA CLARA, CA - SEPTEMBER 21: Sammy Watkins #12 of the Los Angeles Rams stretches the ball across the goal line for a touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers during their NFL game at Levi's Stadium on September 21, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - SEPTEMBER 21: Sammy Watkins #12 of the Los Angeles Rams stretches the ball across the goal line for a touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers during their NFL game at Levi's Stadium on September 21, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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PHILADELPHIA, PA – OCTOBER 23: Quarterback Carson Wentz #11 of the Philadelphia Eagles is tackled Junior Galette #58 of the Washington Redskins during the third quarter of the game at Lincoln Financial Field on October 23, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – OCTOBER 23: Quarterback Carson Wentz #11 of the Philadelphia Eagles is tackled Junior Galette #58 of the Washington Redskins during the third quarter of the game at Lincoln Financial Field on October 23, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) /

No. 3: EDGE Junior Galette, Washington Redskins

The 49ers need help in the pass-rush department in a big way this offseason. Veteran EDGE Elvis Dumervil leads the team in sacks (5.5), and no one else on the Niners roster has more than two.

Dumervil, 33 years old, isn’t a long-term option, and San Francisco would be wise to add some young talent here in the NFL Draft this offseason.

But free agency is another route the team could go.

Teams can never have too many pass-rushers. And with fellow EDGE Aaron Lynch having fallen out of favor with the 49ers coaching staff, it wouldn’t be a shock to see the team target a supplementary piece in free agency.

One player to watch here is veteran EDGE Junior Galette from the Washington Redskins.

Galette has had somewhat of a disappointing year, stat-wise, posting just two sacks on the season. And serious injuries in 2015 and 2016 have likely capped what was looking to be a promising career. But his 79.9 Pro Football Focus pass-rushing grade this season is enticing enough.

And his presence off the edge would help turn all those interior pass-rush moves by defensive tackle DeForest Buckner into sacks.