The Eagles took a shot on Zack Baun and he’s paying off big time in a new role

Zack Baun began his NFL career in New Orleans, a third-round pick by the Saints after putting up massive numbers as a pass rusher for Wisconsin. In his final season with the Badgers Baun tallied 12.5 sacks, en route to a first-team All-American selection.

But Baun struggled to replicate that production while in New Orleans. He spent the bulk of his time on special teams and as a reserve player on the edge, posting just a pair of sacks over four seasons in the NFC South.

Baun found a new home in Philadelphia, signing with the Eagles this offseason in free agency. Not only did he find a new home, but Baun found a new position, as both Eagles general manager Howie Roseman and defensive coordinator Vic Fangio looked at Baun as a player who could make the transition to inside linebacker in Philadelphia’s scheme.

It was a vision that has paid off handsomely for both Baun and the Eagles.

Baun’s first game with the Eagles, the team’s season opener against the Green Bay Packers in Brazil, ended with the newly-minted inside linebacker posting a career-high 15 tackles while adding a pair of sacks, matching his total over four years with the Saints.

He has continued to thrive in this new role and is coming off perhaps his best performance yet, as he notched eight tackles and forced a pair of fumbles in Philadelphia’s 34-6 win over the Dallas Cowboys last Sunday. That performance earned Baun NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors, another career first.

Studying Baun on film, you quickly become surprised at the fact that he has just transitioned to inside linebacker this season. His read and recognition skills are on par with a veteran at the position, and he pairs that feel for the game with impressive athleticism. Take this play against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 9, as Baun slices into the hole, dips under the attempted block, and cuts down Tank Bigsby for a loss of two:

Here is a similar example from his performance in Week 10 against the Cowboys, as he cuts through the hole, avoids a block attempt, and chops down Ezekiel Elliott behind the line of scrimmage:

Baun is also very patient on the second level, which you see here on this play against the Cowboys. Watch as he executes his run fit perfectly, sliding downhill to take his gap. But he does not overrun the play, so when Rico Dowdle tries to cut this run backside, Baun is there for the tackle:

That patience is also displayed here in the Eagles’ Week 8 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. With Joe Burrow and company facing a 2nd and 2, they test the inside of the Philadelphia defense with Chase Brown. Watch Baun mirror the running back, wait for Brown to make his decision on what gap to attack, and then match his decision with ferocity:

But Baun has also been a plus in pass defense for the Eagles, as the athleticism that made him an intriguing EDGE prospect has translated into his new role, making him a sideline-to-sideline linebacker.

On this play against the Jaguars, Baun breaks on a throw to the flat to running back Travis Etienne Jr., holding the shifty RB to just a three-yard gain:

Or take this play against his former team. The Saints set up a designed swing screen for Jamaal Williams in the left flat. Watch as Baun sniffs out the play, breaks to the outside, fights through a block, and holds Williams to no gain on the play:

Baun’s transition to a new team, and a new role, has been one of the more fascinating storylines of the 2024 NFL season. He is back in action tonight, as the Eagles host the Washington Commanders in a battle for NFC East supremacy on Thursday Night Football. He’ll face a challenge going up against one of the best — and most surprising — offenses in the NFL this season.

But what he has shown so far in his new role with the Eagles likely makes him up for the challenge.