NFL free agency: Which edge rushers are left for the 49ers to target?
By Peter Panacy
No. 2: Junior Galette
2017 Team: Washington Redskins
EDGE Junior Galette is something of a reclamation project, after having missed all of 2015 and 2016 with an Achilles injury.
He’ll turn 30 years old this offseason too, which means he’s likely not a long-term solution. But as a short-term option, it could make some sense for a pass-rush needy San Francisco defense.
Especially when one considers his size (6-foot-2, 257 pounds). Defensive coordinator Robert Saleh prefers smaller, more athletic edge rushers to hold down the LEO spot within the defensive front. Galette’s physical makeup is ideal for this.
The only hope would be, of course, Galette has a repeat of his 2013 and 2014 campaigns, in which he registered a combined 22 sacks with the New Orleans Saints.
Galette had just three last year, although his Pro Football Focus pass-rush productivity rating of 11.9 ranked 15th among all qualifying edge defenders last year.
That’s pretty good. If fully healthy and put into the right situation, the sack totals could see an increase.