The Philadelphia Eagles are soaring in the 2024 season, as they are 8-2 through 10 games and have won six straight since Oct. 13. They currently hold the second seed in the NFC behind the 8-1 Detroit Lions.
The Eagles have plenty of players that have been bright spots this season so far, but one player that has stood out from the rest is linebacker Zack Baun. Philadelphia took its chance with Baun, who signed a one-year deal with the Eagles back in March, and fans would likely say the signing is paying off.
Baun began his NFL career with the New Orleans Saints after they selected him in the third round of the 2020 draft. He put up huge numbers in his last season as a Wisconsin Badger, tallying 12.5 sacks and would be a first-team All-American selection by both the Football Writers Association of America and the Walter Camp Football Foundation.
He struggled to put up those same numbers with the Saints, as he spent the majority of the time on special teams and as a reserve player on the edge, though he saw significantly more snaps late during his tenure. He would only record a few sacks over four seasons in his time with the Saints.
When Baun signed with the Eagles, he not only found a new home but a new position as well, making the transition to inside linebacker. Eagles fans couldn’t have asked for a better move.
The Eagles began the 2024 season in Brazil against the Green Bay Packers. Baun tallied a career-high 15 tackles and a pair of sacks, which matched his sack total over the four years with the Saints.
Baun has continued to thrive in this new role, including producing what may be his best performance yet against the Dallas Cowboys on Nov. 10. In that game, he tallied eight tackles and a pair of forced fumbles, helping lead the Eagles to a 34-6 victory.
The performance against the Cowboys earned Baun NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors, a career first.
It’s surprising that Baun has made the transition to inside linebacker look so easy. His read and recognition skills match up with a veteran in that position, and he pairs that with remarkable athleticism.
Baun’s transition to a new team and new role has been a fascinating story so far in the 2024 season. Eagles fans hope that his solid play each week will help lead the team to a Super Bowl.