The Philadelphia Eagles will be defending their Super Bowl championship in 2025. The foundation of the roster will be back in the fold next season, but the Eagles will also have some key players hitting free agency.
One of the biggest free agents is linebacker Zack Baun, and the Eagles' pathway to re-signing him just got a bit more difficult on Monday. According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, the Green Bay Packers are re-signing linebacker Isaiah McDuffie to a two-year, $8 million deal that can increase to $9.5 million.
With one less LB expected to hit the market, the pathway for the Eagles retaining Baun got harder.
Eagles' Path to Re-signing Zack Baun Got More Difficult
Sources: #Packers are re-signing LB Isaiah McDuffie on a two-year, $8-million deal with upside to $9.5M.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) March 3, 2025
McDuffie has 183 tackles over the last two seasons. pic.twitter.com/wxUnkAhuMQ
Last offseason, general manager Howie Roseman added Baun on a bargain of a contract. It was a one-year, $3.5 million deal, but after Baun's outstanding season, the price has gone up.
In 2024, Baun was tied for sixth in the NFL in total tackles (151) while being tied for third in solo tackles (93). He also recorded five forced fumbles and four pass deflections. According to PFF, he had a 90.1 overall grade (2nd among 189 eligible linebackers), a 73.1 run-defense grade (49th among 189 eligible linebackers), and a 91.7 coverage grade (1st among 189 eligible linebackers).
He's going to cash in this offseason. Dre Greenlaw, Nick Bolton, Bobby Wagner, and Ernest Jones are other linebackers slated to become free agents, but Baun is the best of the bunch.
According to Spotrac, Baun's projected market value is listed at $9.7 million but that number will likely be higher.
Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic recently reported that linebacker Jamien Sherwood is expected to land a deal around three years worth $8-10 million per season.
Baun would love that to happen since he's the better player, and that would boost his value on the market. The Eagles have made it clear that they want to retain Baun, but it won't come easy or cheap.