Eagles veteran continues to make the team look like geniuses as he marches toward his first Pro Bowl nod
The Philadelphia Eagles hit the jackpot when they signed linebacker Zack Baun to a one-year, $1.6 million deal in NFL free agency. The former New Orleans Saints 2020 third round pick and backup linebacker is having one heck of a season. Now four years later as a starter for the Eagles, Baun is leading the NFL […]
The Philadelphia Eagles hit the jackpot when they signed linebacker Zack Baun to a one-year, $1.6 million deal in NFL free agency.
The former New Orleans Saints 2020 third round pick and backup linebacker is having one heck of a season.
Now four years later as a starter for the Eagles, Baun is leading the NFL with 64 solo tackles. He has a racked up personal career-highs across the board with two sacks, 102 total tackles, one fumble recovery, three forced fumbles, three passes defended, and an interception.
Baun is also one of just six linebackers in the league with at least 50 tackles, one sack and one interception on the season so far.
Additionally, Baun won his first NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors in the Eagles' Week 10 win over the Dallas Cowboys after he posted eight tackles and a pair of forced fumbles.
In his latest performance, Baun logged 15 tackles (nine solo) and a pass defended during Thursday night's big win over the Washington which helped put the Birds 1.5 games ahead of the Commanders in the NFC East.
A big reason for Baun's success is because of the position switch he did after coming to Philly. Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio opted to move him from edge rusher to inside linebacker.
The transition has been a very smooth one and Baun credits everyone at the Eagles' training facility for making it that way — including the cafeteria workers.
"They embrace me so much, the coaches, the players, the cafeteria staff – everyone just accepted me like a big family," he said. "The people in the building made it really easy for me to transition here."
With the way Baun is playing, he's on tap for his first Pro Bowl nod. He could also receive a bigger payday from the Eagles if they choose to keep him around for next fall, which they would be crazy not to.
