When Zack Baun inked a one-year deal with the Eagles in the offseason, he was just hoping to convince the coaching staff he was a capable starting linebacker. All Baun did was rack up a career-high 151 tackles and 3.5 sacks while punching his first-ever ticket to the Pro Bowl. Not too shabby.
You could argue Baun was the super glue holding together Vic Fangio’s defense. Much to everyone’s chagrin, the new defensive coordinator started hyping Baun up at spring practices and gave him chunky reps at inside linebacker. The 6-foot-3, 225-pounder was first miffed at the position change (from outside linebacker), even questioning the move to Fangio, before eventually embracing it and mastering it.
Baun said: “I actually had a funny conversation with Vic the other day when he found out I was nominated for this award and he said, ‘Remember in the spring when you asked me why you weren’t taking outside linebacker reps?’ And he just kind of laughed about that because I think he knew all along was inside is where I belong.”
Indeed Fangio did. Baun also credited Eagles assistant linebackers coach Bobby King for helping ease any trepidatious thoughts from entering his mind, then pointed out something that wasn’t widely publicized at the time he signed his contract. According to Baun, there was a built-in incentive about the Pro Bowl.
“I kind of just laughed at the fact that that incentive was in my contract,” Baun told reporters, “because I didn’t think that was necessarily a goal of mine. Obviously, it’s a goal of mine but I didn’t think I could reach that at this point in my career, but to be able to be voted in by the fans, players around the league, and coaches … it really means a lot to me, and to a lot to the guys on this defense. It just shows what this defense is and the types of guys we have.”
And, suddenly, talk has turned to keeping this defense together for the long haul. Baun is a key epoxy to that choking cement, but he’s still on a one-year deal with no reported extension on the table. The Eagles need to fix that ASAP.
“Obviously those things are out of my control and in the hands of people above me,” Baun said, “but I love it here. I love the guys in the locker room. I love the organization. I hope it works out.”
Eagles DT Jalen Carter Embraces Power of the Training Room
Everyone could see that Jalen Carter was going to be a generational talent from the first snap of his first preseason game. He was physically stronger than everybody else on the field, plus his mental acumen was off the charts.
However, Carter seemed to fade down the stretch due to a lack of proper conditioning. He heard the criticism in his ears, and felt his sluggish legs physically during his rookie year, so he made a concerted effort to do something about it.
“I learned that getting in the training room is very important,” Carter said. “I’ve been in there the most I’ve ever been in my football career … I feel fresh right now. I could go play this week .. it really be the little nicks that catch up to you later on.”
Now, Carter is headed to his first Pro Bowl after playing 830 snaps. His 81.5 pass-rushing grade (via Pro Football Focus) ranks No. 5 in the NFL among all qualifying interior defensive linemen. It was a dominant year, one Carter hopes to build on in 2025 and beyond.
“I’m not perfect in anything I do right now. I have a lot of stuff to work on,” the Eagles’ second-year DT said. “That’s just going to come with the years of experience that I gather up while I’m still here and playing in the league.”
Cam Jurgens Got Tired of Hearing About Jason Kelce
The one question that haunted Eagles’ C Cam Jurgens throughout the spring and preseason had to do with the ghost of Jason Kelce. It refused to go away, chained to Jurgens like the football version of Jacob Marley.
“You know I’m not really trying to prove anything or show anything,” the Eagles’ Pro Bowler told reporters. “I feel like before the season started every day I was getting questions about what is it like to take over for Kelce. And just every single day, the same question over and over and over again from you guys, and then the season started and I feel like I was playing good and I didn’t get a single question about that … until just now.”
It’s easy to change the narrative when you make the Pro Bowl, right? Jurgens did just that in his first full season as the new starting center in Philadelphia.
“I feel like I played well enough to get in, but you just never know,” he said. “There’s a lot of guys that played well enough to get in and don’t get it …
Jurgens was quick to finish his sentence: “Jordan.”
Eagles LT Jordan Mailata Snubbed from NFL Pro Bowl
Jordan Mailata was arguably the best offensive tackle in the NFL. He finished as the league’s highest-graded run blocker (94.9) and second-best in pass blocking (91.7). In 406 pass-blocking snaps, Mailata allowed only one sack and one quarterback hit.
Yet, the voters decided that there wasn’t enough room at the tackle spot on the NFC roster. They chose Tristan Wirfs, Penei Sewell, and Lane Johnson as the three representatives.
“That’s out of my control,” Mailata said. “But I will say this: It’s not something that I prioritize or look forward to. And another thing is, when I look back from where I was last year to where I am this year, I know I’m on the right path.”
Mailata went on to say that the Eagles have “bigger goals” — say Super Bowl without saying Super Bowl — then shared a poignant message: “I don’t want your pity.”
And, when asked if the 2024 campaign was his best year in the NFL, Mailata was at the ready with the perfect retort: “Year’s not over. Ask me at the end of the season.”
Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images
