Philadelphia Eagles

Zack Baun’s Eagles breakout has the NFL looking for the next him

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Zack Baun is one of the top surprise stories of this NFL season, going from anonymous special-teamer in New Orleans to All-Pro-caliber linebacker in Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA — As the Los Angeles Rams lined up on third-and-3, Zack Baun crept up to the right edge. The Philadelphia Eagles linebacker looked ready to blitz.

As Matthew Stafford fielded the snap, Baun instead backpedaled. He shuffled out toward receiver Puka Nacua, who would catch nine passes for 117 yards on the night.

Nacua would not catch this pass. Because Baun — yes, the same Baun who was just threatening to rush Stafford — broke up the pass.

Where was this guy during his first four pro years, when he played just 15 percent of defensive snaps?

Team and league voices offer different explanations for how the inside linebacker leading the league in tackles and several other metrics played so sparingly throughout his rookie contract with the New Orleans Saints, then exploded onto the scene in his first year in Philadelphia.

Rarely do players cement themselves as starters after four years unable to crack the lineup.

Questioning the Saints is fair — and some do, one NFC executive going so far as to call it “negligent” to play Baun so sparingly when “he had All-Pro in his body.” But Baun’s resurgence isn’t just about the Saints’ depth chart or the Eagles’ success mining for traits independent of production. This isn’t just about Baun finally getting the opportunity to play 95% of defensive snaps.

Baun’s progress toward realizing his potential stems from his work ethic and ability as well as landing in the right scheme with the right coaching staff. It stems from the block-destruction guidance from a linebackers coach whose eye he caught during their pandemic-shortened pre-draft meeting in March 2020, and from a front office sharp enough to pursue an unproven linebacker as early in free agency as they pursued star running back Saquon Barkley.

For teams constantly seeking elusive edges in a league of parity, understanding how to identify and transform a cost-effective special teamer into a Pro Bowl starter can push an average team to good and a good team great. Baun’s story hits on several league trends and microcosms. Teams should and will study what worked in their pursuit of capturing the same luck.

Baun’s Week 12 breakup of Stafford to Nacua showcases a glimpse of the athleticism and instincts that have fueled his stellar campaign. The interaction that followed says almost as much.

Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni accepted an offensive holding penalty that would position the Rams to face fourth-and-3 in the red zone. Then Sirianni changed his mind, declining the penalty and opting for his players to defend third-and-13 from the 24 rather than fourth-and-3 from the 14.

Why did he choose to give the Rams another shot at third down?

“Hey, if Nick’s aggressive, then he trusts us,” mic’d-up footage caught Baun telling fellow linebacker Nakobe Dean on the field. “I love it.”

Sirianni confirmed just that when the defense returned to the sideline after a sack.

“I declined that ’cause of trust,” Sirianni told Baun.

“I know,” responded the linebacker who craved just that belief the prior four years.

Finally, Baun has found it — from his coaching staff and himself.

During the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft, the Saints worried Baun wouldn’t last. So they dealt their 2021 third-round selection to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for a seventh-round pick and 14-spot rise.

With the 74th overall pick, Baun became a Saint. But playing what position exactly?

At Wisconsin, the 2019 consensus All-American trained exclusively as an outside linebacker. He racked up 12.5 sacks his final season and anticipated more pass rushing as a professional. But some talent evaluators saw him as a “tweener,” in part because he wasn’t as big as some edge rushers and in part because his athleticism and change-of-direction fluidity suggested he’d thrive in coverage.

“Moves damn near like a DB,” one NFC executive told Yahoo Sports. “His feet are quick, his hips are loose, he can turn, he can close ground. He naturally flows in space.”

Baun didn’t naturally flow into the Saints’ defense. Assigning blame to one party is disingenuous to the myriad dynamics that influence NFL roster decisions around the league. The factors varied. COVID-19 interrupted Baun’s first two offseasons of training, reducing his exposure to practices and the facility as the club asked him to learn all three linebacker positions after he’d played just one. Baun’s performance in practice and limited game snaps didn’t help matters. He struggled to adjust to the full-field vision required at inside linebacker but not edge rusher, Baun’s mental errors sowing doubt in the coaching staff that held the power to play or bench him.

 

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