Zack Baun is coming off an amazing 2024 season that not many people saw coming. It helped the Philadelphia Eagles hoist the franchise’s second Lombardi Trophy in the Ceasars Superdome where Baun started his career. With that success story comes the rewards, and Baun and the Eagles reaped the rewards on March 5 when the two sides agreed to a 3-year, $51 million deal to bring him back to this dominant defense. Here is how he will impact the defense.
Zack Baun’s 2024 Production
First, to see the potential impact a player could have on a team’s future, you have to see the production that led to a big deal like the one that Baun just got. Here are the stats from his 2024 All-Pro season: 151 total tackles (93 Solo), 3.5 sacks, 5 forced fumbles, 1 interception, and a fumble recovery. He should have won the AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year with those stats, but I understand why it went to Patrick Surtain. Baun finishing fifth was a crime though.
He stepped up his ability in the postseason with 1 FF, 2 INTS, and 2 FR. That production explains why both sides made the deal and are happy to continue this marriage. Now, let’s project the impact of Baun in 2025 and beyond.
Projecting Baun’s Impact Going Forward
Baun will earn every bit of that $17 million annually going forward. It makes GM Howie Roseman look like a genius for finally paying a linebacker because of his football IQ and his ability to learn a new position. He excelled at it quickly enough to be a member of one of the All-Pro teams in his first year playing that position. That impact is going to continue as long as he stays on the healthy side. Plus, his chemistry with Nakobe Dean will be fluid once again once Dean returns from his patellar tendon injury.
His leadership and demeanor were some of the most impressive parts of his tenure. He and Saquon Barkley had the team in the right mindset throughout the whole game in Super Bowl LIX. I think that Baun will continue to be that leader and have that poise and demeanor throughout the rest of his career as an Eagle as well.
Conclusion
Baun was Philadelphia’s top priority during free agency for a reason. The Eagles got it done. This will keep this defense as the top one in the NFL once again like I called last August in their Fantasy preview. Now, the defense will continue where it left off in 2024 with the hopes for the REPEAT! Total Apex Sports is the place to be for all sports news.
