The Philadelphia Eagles ended the regular season with a 20-13 victory over the lowly New York Giants. While many were already looking ahead to the postseason for the Eagles, several players had a chance to reflect on their debut season in Philadelphia following the team’s regular season finale.
The Eagles found a gem in Zack Baun
When Philadelphia initially signed linebacker Zack Baun, Eagles general manager Howie Roseman viewed Baun as a core special teams player with value as an edge rusher. Yet Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio had other plans, which seemingly helped Baun recreate himself in his first season in the City of Brotherly Love.
Fangio viewed Baun as an inside linebacker and along with the help of Eagles linebacker coach Bobby King, Baun enjoyed a breakout season in 2024. Baun finished his debut season at inside linebacker for the Eagles with 151 total tackles, five forced fumbles and 3.5 sacks. The 28-year-old was elected to the Pro Bowl and will be named to one of the All-Pro teams as well.
There are so many instances in professional sports where players are labeled busts or never reach their full potential due to fit or coaching. Following Week 18, I asked Baun about his resurgent debut season in Philadelphia and his thoughts on other players that may have never landed in the correct situation.
“It’s cool because I was a special teams guy obviously and had to grind my way to where I’m at now,” Baun said. “But what was consistent and has been consistent is the work I put in. The work never stopped no matter what situation I was in. Whether I was playing special teams, playing a few snaps a game. I was preparing like I was a starter, I’m practicing like I was a starter. I’m learning and I’m going to continue to learn.”
“It’s just about fit for guys,” Baun said when asked about players maximizing their potential. “I just wonder how many guys out there are like me and maybe at linebacker or other positions that just need a new place and a fresh start.”
Unexpected company
Baun isn’t alone when it comes to flourishing at a new position for Philadelphia’s defense this season. Eagles rookie cornerback Cooper DeJean moved inside to slot cornerback after primarily playing on the outside at Iowa. DeJean played just 163 snaps at slot cornerback in college, according to Pro Football Focus. Yet DeJean played over 500 snaps in the slot during his rookie season in Philadelphia.
DeJean credited both the coaching staff and Eagles veteran cornerback Avonte Maddox with helping to ease his transition to slot cornerback during his rookie season.
“I wouldn’t be able to play good if it wasn’t for those guys,” DeJean said. “I still got a lot of work to do. I feel like I’ve learned a lot since my first preseason game. I feel like I’ve gotten better at a lot of things.”
Following the final regular season game of his rookie season, I also asked DeJean if there was a particular “Welcome to the NFL” moment that stood out. DeJean called back to his battle against Carolina Panthers veteran wide receiver Adam Thielen in Week 14:
“When I faced Adam Thielen a couple of weeks ago, he gave me some good work,” DeJean said with a smile.
DeJean wasn’t the lone rookie to have played a relatively new position for the Eagles this season. Philadelphia’s third-round pick, Jalyx Hunt, made the switch from safety to edge rusher in 2022. After hardly seeing the field to start the regular season, Hunt has become a key rotational player on the edge for the Eagles.
Jalyx Hunt joins the party
Hunt reflected on his move to the edge in 2022 and his first regular season in the NFL following Philadelphia’s victory over the Giants in Week 18.
“I never would have agreed, if you had told me this three years ago, I would have said you were lying,” Hunt said when asked about playing on the edge in the NFL. “I would have agreed with being in the league but I would have been like ‘nah, I don’t put my hand in the dirt, I don’t rush off the edge.'”
“It’s kind of surreal to be here. But I think it just goes to show that anything can happen.”
I also asked Hunt about his “Welcome to the NFL” moment following the end of his first regular season in the NFL.
“Man, it’s like a welcome to the NFL moment every week, especially on the edge,” Hunt said. “My first one would be going against Lane Johnson, a Hall of Fame tackle, every day in practice.”
“Then it would be playing against offenses like the Ravens and Green Bay, everybody. It’s something new and you take it in stride each week.”
For all three of these players, Philadelphia’s postseason opener against the Green Bay Packers will serve as a full circle moment. While Baun started in Week 1 against the Packers, DeJean and Hunt hardly saw the field in the team’s regular season opener.
Hunt discussed his increased workload and his excitement level ahead of Philadelphia’s rematch against Green Bay in the postseason.
“I’m super excited,” Hunt said. “Whenever I get the opportunity to play football, I’m over the moon. So I’m ready for it.”
Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
