Jaguars Cut Veteran Pass Rusher Jason Babin
The Jacksonville Jaguars just got a little thinner up front on their defensive line. According to multiple reports, the team has cut ties with veteran pass rusher Jason Babin.
Babin paced the Jags with 7.5 sacks a year ago, totaling a healthy 14.5 sacks in two years with the team. Originally acquired in 2012 after being let go by the Philadelphia Eagles, Babin brought a veteran presence and a consistent pass rush for a Jacksonville defense that otherwise was starving for pressure on the opposing quarterback.
Babin might be best known for being part of the “Dream Team” free agency class with the Philadelphia Eagles, where he was ultimately one of the few star free agents that actually panned out for the team. Babin produced a career high 18 sacks that season, one year after creating free agency hype with a 12-sack year in his final season with the Tennessee Titans.
Now 34 years old and on the open market, Babin will be readily available to the highest bidder. Babin appears to have no intention to retire from football, and while he’s no longer quite as productive as he was in 2010 and 2011, he can still provide a very solid pass rush off the edge.
Teams expected to be interested that badly need help in the pass rushing department could be the Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, although numerous teams could look into bringing Babin On. Atlanta specifically addressed their defensive line in free agency and the draft this year, but mostly acquired run-stopping defensive line talent. They still lack a legit pass rushing force and could try to solve that problem by adding the experienced Babin.
Where Babin eventually signs and what kind of role he has will ultimately be determined by just how much his new team feels he has left in the tank. If the past two years are any indication, it should be enough to get him through at least one more serviceable season.
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