Recently released linebacker Junior Galette is meeting with NFL officials concerning his off field issues. He was alledgely caught on video phyiscally assaulting a female who is said to be his girlfriend.
Junior Galette, 27, signed a four-year, $41.5 million contract extension with the New Orleans Saints last season in September. While his off-field issues were something known to the public, lets focus on his on-field contributions. Galette combined for a total of 45 tackles, 12 of which were assisted. Junior Galette accounted for 10 total sacks last season. That is the second consecutive season Galette tallied double-digit sack totals.
Galette is coming from a team that currently runs a 3-4 scheme. Outside linebackers who come from 3-4 defensive schemes, like Junior, can make an easy transition to a 4-3 defensive end. The Atlanta Falcons as a team only totalled 22 sacks. A player by the name of Justin Houston totalled that many sacks by himself.
This team has been talent ridden on the defensive side of the ball for quite a while and this could be potentially a low-risk high-reward situation, depending on the outlook of his investigation. When analyzing the Falcons' current squad, there aren't many eye-popping names when it comes to defensive ends.
First rounder Vic Beasley has the potential to be a star defensive player and will line up on the outside at defensive end. However, it takes more than one talented player to make a defense, and you can't expect a rookie to carry the entire load at rushing the quarterback.
Since the John Abaraham days, the Falcons haven't put any significant pressure on the opposing team's quarterback. Adding a talent like Galette to compete with the other defensive ends on the team certainly couldn't hurt. Remember, this is only if he is cleared of all wrong doing from his investigation.