http://www.newyorkjets.com/news/articles/show_article?short_name=news&article_id=715
Houston Texans DE Jason Babin is a former 1st-round draft choice who is scheduled to make nearly $1.3M this season. For the past two seasons he has been a fixture in the Texans 3-4 defense at OLB, a position that takes advantage of his outstanding athleticism and pass rush ability. But new head coach Gary Kubiak is installing a 4-3 scheme that will force Babin to move to DE and play with his hand down. That’s not his strength, and at 6-3, 252, he lacks the size and bulk to play in the trenches in that kind of defense. As a result, he is listed as the 3rd RDE on the team’s depth chart. The Texans don’t figure to pay that kind of money to a player who doesn’t figure to be even a primary backup, and aren’t likely to keep him around if he doesn’t fit what they plan to do on defense. He’s a young, talented player who would be an excellent fit for the Jets new defensive scheme.
Another player in Houston who figures to be available is DT Seth Payne. The 10-year vet is scheduled to make $4.2M this season, but isn’t expected to start. Though he could contribute in the 4-3, and has played in that defense before in his time with the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Texans will be looking for younger players to build with, and won’t be willing to take a big salary hit for a player they will be looking to replace sooner than later. He has played well in the Houston 3-4 despite being slightly undersized. And although he is on the downside of his career, Payne, an Ivy League grad from Cornell, is smart, tough, and versatile, all key traits that Eric Mangini and Mike Tannenbaum look for in their players. He could add valuable depth and leadership to the defensive line unit.
Also coming out of Houston, LB Kailee Wong could be a potential fit. Though he has had injury problems, and isn’t a good fit at OLB where he played in the Texans defense, he could be an emergency fill-in on the inside behind Jonathan Vilma and Eric Barton if Brad Kassell and Anthony Schlegel get injured or aren’t able to fill their role. The Texans are nearly $11M over the cap and still need to sign their draft choices. There is a very real possibility that these players could come free.