After initially placing a second-round tender on Junior Galette, the New Orleans Saints have made a longer commitment to the defensive end/linebacker.

The team just announced it has signed Galette to a three-year contract. Terms of the deal aren’t available yet, but it’s likely the Saints structured the deal so that Galette’s first-year cap figure is less than what it would have been if he played for the restricted free-agent tender ($2.023 million).

Still, the Saints are more than $6 million over the salary cap and will have to make some moves between now and the start of the league year Tuesday.

But the signing of Galette is a sign that he could have a key role in the team’s new 3-4 defense. Galette had been a reserve defensive end. But he appears to be a better fit as an outside linebacker in the 3-4 scheme and should have a chance to be a starter.