Jacksonville Jaguars claim Jason Babin off waivers

Babin is in the second year of a five-year, $27.7 million contract. Jacksonville is now responsible for the remainder of that deal. The Jags will be responsible for roughly $1.8 million this season, $4.2 million in 2013 and $6 million in each of the last two seasons of the deal.

Philadelphia released Babin on Tuesday. At the time, embattled head coach Andy Reid said the move was made with an eye on getting more playing time for the team’s younger players. The Eagles have lost seven straight games. Earlier this season the team fired defensive coordinator Juan Castillo, replacing him with defensive backs coach Todd Bowles.

Here’s how Reid explained the move:

“We appreciate everything that Jason has given this team over the last couple of years. We wish him all the best as he continues his career. By releasing him today, this gives us an opportunity to give more playing time to some younger guys in the defensive line rotation.”

Babin will help the Jaguars stay competitive down the stretch, but the team, at 2-9, is out of the playoff picture as well. Adding the veteran defensive end gives Jacksonville another pass rusher. It is slightly unusual for a team in that position to take on a veteran and his contract so late in the season, but with reasonable salaries and no guaranteed money remaining over the life of the deal, it’s a relatively low-risk move.

According to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, seven other teams put in a claim for Babin.