The feel-good story of the NFL last year was the performance of Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Zack Baun, going from backup to stardom that almost sounds like the plot of Rocky.
Baun spent the first four years with the New Orleans Saints after the team selected him in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft. After starting 30 of the 78 games he played in with New Orleans, he signed with the Eagles on a cheap one-year deal that became on of the best signings in recent memory.
His play in 2024 not only catapulted the Eagles to their second Super Bowl win in franchise history, but it also placed Baun in elite status.
Baun is ranked as one of the best linebackers in the NFL
PFF writer Mason Cameron ranked the top 32 linebackers in the NFL. Baun stormed up the rankings to number two, as he led the way in Tier 2, just behind San Francisco 49ers linebacker Fred Warner, who was first and the only linebacker in Tier 1.
"Baun took the league by storm in his first year in Philadelphia. His 90.1 PFF overall grade last season was not only the best of his career, but also the highest mark in the NFL. The breakout season earned Baun a $51 million extension and a fifth-place finish in Defensive Player of the Year voting.
Another season with that type of production will have Baun vying for Tier 1 placement in 2026."
Baun finished last year with 151 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, five quarterback hits, five forced fumbles, four pass deflections, one interception, and one fumble recovery in 16 games. He shined in the playoffs, leading all players in tackles (33) and interceptions (two), while also adding three pass deflections, two tackles for loss, two fumble recoveries, and one forced fumble.
His 2024 campaign landed him in the Pro Bowl and an AP first-team All-Pro. That impressive resume convinced the Eagles to reward him with a three-year, $51 million contract that will keep Baun on the team through the 2027 season.
Going into the 2025 season, Baun will be taking on a bigger role as one of the leaders on this defense. The 28-year-old linebacker is one of the oldest defenders on the roster and will most likely call the shots and be Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio's right-hand man on the field.
A man who was once seen as just a career backup in the NFL has transformed himself into one of the best linebackers in the NFL. Baun needs another stellar season to be in the conversation with Warner for the top guy.
