Eagles have a defender quietly making a case for bigger recognition after strong start
Zack Baun has transformed himself in one of the top off-ball linebackers in football.
Zack Baun is not getting enough credit, and it’s time to change that. The Philadelphia Eagles’ linebacker has quietly become one of the best defensive players in the NFL, and after his performance against Washington this past week, the conversation should be getting louder. He is consistently one of the best players on this team, maybe the defensive anchor of the entire unit, and at minimum a top 2 or top 3 player on that side of the ball.
An All-Pro transformation
Think about the story here for a second. This is a guy who never even played this position before arriving in Philadelphia. He barely played with New Orleans. And now he’s turned himself into an All-Pro-caliber off-ball linebacker. He’s still relatively fresh because of that limited usage early in his career, and you can see it on the field every single week. The consistency is unreal.
The numbers from the Washington game tell the story perfectly. Baun was targeted six times in coverage. He allowed three catches for negative-2 yards and added two pass breakups. Since the start of last season, the only other player to face five or more targets in a game and allow negative receiving yards is Denzel Ward, who is one of the best corners in the league. We’re talking about a linebacker putting up coverage numbers that rival elite cornerbacks. That is insane.
Vic Fangio’s hidden gem
This is a Vic Fangio find through and through. Baun fits the system perfectly because he can do everything. He’s physical. He connects so many different parts of the defense because of his versatility, and that’s exactly what Fangio demands from his linebackers. You need guys who can drop into coverage, play the run, and make plays all over the field. Baun checks every single box.
Beyond the physical tools, he’s a great leader and has a great attitude. Those intangibles matter when you’re trying to hold a defense together, and I honestly don’t know where the Eagles’ defense would be without him. He is that important to what Philadelphia is building on that side of the ball.
If Baun keeps playing like this, he is going to be in line for Defensive Player of the Year votes. I’m serious. That’s how good he was against Washington, that’s how good he’s been since last season, and that’s how good he will continue to be. The Eagles have a superstar on their hands, and it’s about time everybody starts recognizing it.
