NEW ORLEANS — Greater than 160 fellow free brokers secured greater contracts final offseason than the one which Zack Baun signed with the Eagles.
And but Baun is certainly one of 5 finalists for NFL Defensive Participant of the Yr.
Baun left New Orleans in March as a bit participant over 4 years with the Saints and returned Monday evening as a game-wrecker answerable for getting the Eagles into Tremendous Bowl LIX.
“Comfy, good to be again,” Baun mentioned Monday throughout Opening Night time, “but it surely’s solely particular if we win this factor.”
The Saints needed Baun so badly throughout the third spherical of the 2020 draft that they traded a future third-rounder simply to swap picks and transfer up 14 spots. After which he was handled like a participant with no place and changed into a core member of particular groups.
So, it was a bit of head-scratching when the Eagles prioritized signing Baun to a one-year, $3.5 million deal on the primary day of free company final season — hours after poaching Saquon Barkley and Bryce Huff out of New York for multiyear, big-money contracts.
“I used to be function participant right here in New Orleans,” Baun mentioned, “however the factor is I simply stored working and dealing and dealing and knew that it’s concerning the circumstances typically.”
Now, Baun, 28, seems to be just like the NFL’s finest cut price thanks partially to defensive coordinator Vic Fangio’s determination to show Baun right into a full-time inside linebacker as a substitute of a part-time edge rusher. At the least till he reaches free company once more subsequent month and is projected by Professional Soccer Focus to money in on a three-year, $39 million contract.
“Everybody needs to be needed in some capability,” Baun mentioned. “That was the Eagles for me. Vic had a plan for me from the beginning.”
In 4 seasons with the Saints, Baun tallied 88 tackles, two sacks and one interception in 14 begins over 64 video games. In a single season with the Eagles, Baun rang up 151 tackles, 5 compelled fumbles, 4 passes defended, one interception and three.5 sacks in 16 video games and begins.
“I used to be by no means pissed off,” Baun mentioned. “Partially as a result of that’s on me. My gradual improvement and transition from place to place. However I simply trusted the method.”
Baun added one other compelled fumble and fumble restoration when the Eagles defeated the Commanders within the NFC Championship recreation.
His knack for stripping the ball is the explanation that Eagles stalwart Brandon Graham — who made the decisive play within the 2018 Tremendous Bowl — picked Baun to make the largest play Sunday from all choices surrounding him.
“That boy, I anticipate him to exit and provides me every part he’s bought,” Graham mentioned, “as a result of that’s what he reveals in follow.”
Baun collected his first piece of {hardware} for his breakthrough season final week, when his fellow linebackers shocked him with the Butkus Award for the NFL’s finest linebacker at a small dinner.
Subsequent up? He earned his spot subsequent to T.J. Watt and Myles Garrett — each of whom are on Corridor of Fame tracks — on the Defensive Participant of the Yr podium.
“It’s actually cool to be even talked about with these guys,” Baun mentioned. “It’s a credit score to lots of people … I couldn’t do it with out.”