The Philadelphia Eagles have several key members of their Super Bowl winning team entering free agency this spring, but one of the biggest is linebacker Zack Baun.
The 28-year-old signed a one-year deal with Philadelphia during last year’s free agent period and parlayed the opportunity into a career year, logging 151 total tackles with 11 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, four pass deflections and five forced fumbles.
A year like that will get any player paid and Baun is currently ranked as Pro Football Focus’s No. 6 linebacker and No. 61 free agent overall in this year’s class. With a projected value of $9.7 million annually by Spotrac and $13.3 million by PFF, there’s a good chance Baun could see a big contract coming his way.
But some believe he may be standing on some green grass with the Eagles and it’s the best spot for him moving forward.
NFL Analyst Advises Zack Baun’s Best Free Agent Scenario is Staying With Eagles
Baun was advised to stay with the Eagles in a recent article by ESPN’s Matt Bowen. Bowen noted that Baun’s breakout season had a lot to do with playing in Vic Fangio’s defensive scheme and while he could make more money elsewhere, staying in Philadelphia could be his best decision.
“The Eagles should be trying to keep Baun after his breakout season, which included high-level production in the playoffs,” Bowen wrote. “A three-down defender in Vic Fangio’s defense, Baun recorded 150 tackles, 3.5 sacks, five forced fumbles and an interception in the regular season. He followed that with two picks in the postseason including one against the Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX. Let’s run it back.”
A massive season wasn’t expected for Baun, especially considering his previous stint with the New Orleans Saints. A third-round pick in the 2020 draft, the Wisconsin product averaged 22 tackles and two tackles for loss and only made 14 starts in his 62 games with the Saints. But upon signing with the Eagles last spring, Baun’s value skyrocketed, earning his first All-Pro and Pro Bowl selections and finishing fifth in the Associated Press’s Defensive Player of the Year Voting.
Baun’s recent production could inspire a team in need of good players to overpay. The New England Patriots have $128 million in cap space to utilize this offseason while the Las Vegas Raiders ($99.5 million in cap space) and Washington Commanders ($82.2 million) also have a need at linebacker and cap space to fill it.
But we’ve seen situations before where a player blows up, cashes in and it doesn’t work out with his new team. With hints that the Eagles have already been working to retain Baun, it wouldn’t be a surprise if he signed a new contract with the Eagles and continues to be a key player in Philadelphia’s defense in 2025 and beyond.