The Philadelphia Eagles escaped the Jacksonville Jaguars’ second-half comeback attempt with a 28-23 win at Lincoln Financial Field in Week 9. The Eagles defensive unit allowed the Jaguars to rack up 215 yards and only 60 rushing yards despite the inflated scoreboard point total on the giant, oversized scoreboard at the Linc when the fourth quarter ticked to 0:00.
Linebacker Zach Baun was again the most noticeable Eagles player on the Philadephia defensive unit on Sunday. Baun led the Eagles in tackles with 7 takedowns and 3 assisted tackles. The off-season acquisition defended two passes while securing his first interception in a Kelly Green uniform. He has been a very bright spot on an Eagles’ defense still finding their way at the halfway point of the season.
Zach Baun’s Offseason Contract
On the first day of the legal tampering period, Philadelphia Eagles general manager Howie Roseman signed the 6-foot-3, 225-pound linebacker away from the New Orleans Saints in free agency on a $3.5 million, one-year contract. The contract is a bit complex with the money spread out over five seasons with four void years tacked on the end of this season’s contract to assist the Eagles salary cap situation.
Before arriving in Philly, Baun had played 62 career games in New Orleans with 14 starts over four seasons. Zach Baun appeared in special teams reps with the Saints where he had 23 career tackles and a punt block against Tennessee in the 2023 season opener.
Before 2024, Zach Baun started 14 out of a possible 62 NFL games with a season-high six starts in his last season in New Orleans. During his four-year Saints career, Baun was credited with 60 tackles with 28 assisted tackles for 88 combined takedowns. The former Wisconsin Badger recorded 52 solo tackles total over that American Presidential term time in Louisiana.
Brilliant 2024 First Half Performance
This offseason, Baun received a chance to start in Philadelphia and the fifth-year NFL veteran is certainly seizing the opportunity to anchor the Philadelphia defense. Baun has started all eight games smashing every statistical category in his career in the first half of the season. He told Sports Illustrated’s Ed Kracz after the Green Bay opener that the linebacker felt comfortable in Philadelphia. “I think the comfortability (in Philly) comes with the confidence they have in me. I feel like they are putting me in good position to do a lot of different things and make an impact all over the field.”
In the first half of the season, Baun leads the Eagles with 52 tackles and 27 assisted tackles for 79 combined stops. The Eagles linebacker is one credited tackle shy of placing inside the top 10 in the NFL for tackles this season.
More impressively, Baun ranks third in the NFL with his 46 solo takedowns trailing only Indianapolis Colts E.J. Speed (50) and rumored trade deadline candidate from the Arizona Cardinals, Budda Baker (54).
Eagles Record Books in Sight for Baun?
According to ESPN.com, Zach Baun is on track to record the most tackles by a player in a single NFL season in Philadelphia history based on his first-half production. If he continues in his Super Saiyan linebacker former, Baun is projected for 111 solo tackles over the remaining nine games which would break a tie atop the Eagles’ history books.
Currently, DeMeco Ryans from 2013 and Jeremiah Trotter’s season in 2005 are tied with 102 solo stops. Baun is projected for 168 combined takedowns which would set a new record dismantling T.J. Edwards’ 2022 season of 159 combined tackles.
While it is certainly too soon to make any determinations on how the rest of the 2024 NFL season plays out, the question will soon become whether or not the Philadelphia Eagles will be able (or willing) to retain the energetic linebacker. Based on his first-half performance, Baun seems like a perfect fit in Philly. It will ultimately be up to Howie Roseman and Baun’s representation with CAA Football to hammer out an extension to allow the 27-year-old to fly at least another season or two in Midnight Green.
Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
