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Babin expected to sign with Texans today

Discussion in 'Houston Texans' started by Rockets34Legend, Jun 26, 2004.

  1. Rockets34Legend

    Rockets34Legend Contributing Member

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    http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/2648640

    Texans work fast on Babin
    Rookie is initial first-round pick to reach agreement


    The Texans' aggressive approach to contract negotiations produced a surprisingly speedy agreement with first-round draft pick Jason Babin. He is expected to sign a five- or six-year contract with the team today, according to league sources.

    Babin will be the NFL's first 2004 first-round draft pick to sign.

    As proof of how quickly things can get done when both sides are on the same page, the two camps began serious discussions with their first face-to-face meeting June 15 at Reliant Park and reached an agreement less than two weeks later.

    Negotiations between teams and their first-round picks historically have not heated up before July 4. A total of just three first-round picks from the 2002 and 2003 drafts were signed before July 17, including Texans quarterback David Carr, who officially signed his deal the day he was drafted.

    Babin, the second of the Texans' two first-round picks, was the 27th overall selection in April's draft. Although he played defensive end at Western Michigan, he will be the starting left outside linebacker in the Texans' 3-4 scheme.

    Financial terms of Babin's deal were not immediately available, although it's worth noting that Kansas City running back Larry Johnson -- last year's 27th overall selection -- got a $3.3 million signing bonus and his seven-year contract was worth about $1.2 million annually.

    That's roughly the same annual average as San Francisco cornerback Mike Rumph, the 27th pick of the 2002 draft.

    The Texans have high hopes for Babin, who capped his college career with back-to-back 15-sack seasons.

    After selecting South Carolina cornerback Dunta Robinson with the 10th overall selection, the Texans traded back into the first round to nab Babin, sending Tennessee picks in the second, third and fourth rounds. The Texans also swapped fifth-round picks with the Titans in the biggest trade of their brief existence.

    The Texans coveted Babin, who had 38 career sacks at Western Michigan, early in the draft evaluation process. When he was still on the board at the 27th spot, the Texans hustled back into the first round, concerned they might lose him to another 3-4 team.

    New England held the 32nd pick in the first round, and there also was the possibility of another team trading back into the first round for Babin, who was considered undersized for a 4-3 defensive end, but a good fit as an outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme.

    Upgrading the pass rush has been a top priority for the Texans, who had just 19 sacks in 2003, down from 35 during their inaugural season. Only one team -- Chicago with 18 -- had fewer sacks than the Texans last season.

    The Texans hope that re-signing Gary Walker and adding Robaire Smith will improve the inside pass rush, but high sack totals typically come from the outside, and that's where the Texans believe Babin will have an impact.

    To accommodate Babin's arrival, the Texans moved Kailee Wong from left outside linebacker to the right side. Because Babin can play at about 15 to 20 pounds bigger than Wong, coach Dom Capers and defensive coordinator Vic Fangio thought their best alignment was to play Babin on the right side, generally the strong side for opposing offenses.

    Babin is the fourth of the Texans' nine draft picks to reach a deal, joining sixth-round pick Jammal Lord and seventh-rounders Raheem Orr and Sloan Thomas.

    All draft picks were signed before training camp in each of the Texans' previous two years. Negotiations with Robinson are in the early stages.
     
  2. 12345

    12345 Member

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    Why did the Texans convert Babin into a Linebacker? Is he fast enough?
     
  3. redgoose

    redgoose Contributing Member

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    If he's as good as advertised, then i really like that contract he signed. :)
     

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