The within linebacker market has stagnated a bit since Fred Warner and Shaquille Leonard‘s paydays in 2021. Just one participant — Roquan Smith — has since eclipsed these offers, and the market noticed two of its prime AAVs (C.J. Mosley and Foyesade Oluokun) drop attributable to extensions that introduced pay cuts final yr.
This yr’s free company interval is unlikely to characteristic any true threats to eclipse Smith, however one ILB reworked his market due to a 2024 breakthrough. Zack Baun went from a largely unproductive edge rusher — and a participant who researched special-teamers’ deals as comps going into free company final yr — to a first-team All-Professional. Baun nearly accomplished the inverse of the Haason Reddick emergence, as the previous Eagle revitalized his profession after being moved from ILB to an edge function.
Baun completed the season with 151 tackles, 5 pressured fumbles and three.5 sacks. He added a regular-season INT and a pivotal Tremendous Bowl LIX decide, which arrange the Eagles deep in Chiefs territory forward of a second-quarter landing. Baun’s breakout yr will generate an fascinating market, as he’s 28 and has no prior historical past of constant play. This might make some groups hesitant, however Baun definitely proved he matches in Vic Fangio‘s scheme. And he want to proceed creating in Philadelphia.
“I’m curious. I don’t know what it’ll seem like, truthfully,” Baun stated of his second crack at free company via PHLY’s Zach Berman. “…Hopefully it’s right here. I like this place. I admire what they’ve executed for my profession and my household — simply the whole lot. I received numerous choices to weigh.”
The Eagles have some necessary defensive items nearing the market. Josh Sweat is chief among them, with Milton Williams additionally out of contract. Mekhi Becton joins Baun in being interested in staying with the Eagles, who noticed each bargain-bin 2024 FA signings increase their values in serving to Philly to its second Tremendous Bowl championship. Whereas Becton performs a higher-valued place, Baun was one of many NFL’s finest defenders final season, getting there on a $3.5M contract. He can be on the lookout for a big increase quickly.
Final yr’s market noticed two eight-figure-per-year free agent ILB contracts handed out. The Texans gave Azeez Al-Shaair a three-year, $34M deal; the Steelers signed off on a three-year, $41M Patrick Queen pact. These contracts respectively verify fifth and seventh amongst off-ball LBs. Contemplating Baun is 28 and simply put collectively a first-team All-Professional season to assist a group to a championship, it could appear affordable he may goal that value vary.
Philly is projected to carry greater than $18M in cap area, a mid-pack quantity three-plus weeks forward of the 2025 league yr. The group’s artistic 2024 maneuvering on offense confirmed a capability to afford various expensive extensions, as void years and choice bonuses flood Howie Roseman‘s payroll. If the Eagles lose Baun, they’d have a evident want at linebacker due to Nakobe Dean having suffered a patellar tendon tear in the wild-card round. The group has not devoted a lot in the way in which of funds to this place in recent times, however Dean’s newest damage offers a complication.
Williams mentioned a need to remain in a successful state of affairs. That’s usually not prioritized by gamers searching for second contracts, as this window represents a key alternative to money in. The Eagles even have each Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis signed for a number of extra seasons, ought to the group decide up Davis’ fifth-year choice by Could. Williams may very well be an odd man out, because the Eagles determine to be saving as much as lengthen the Georgia alums down the road. This might definitely imply Williams’ finest presents will come from different groups, and the four-year veteran did add he would need “a state of affairs to as shut as this as potential.”
Greater than two years youthful than Baun, Williams can be 26 by Week 1 of subsequent season. He completed his contract yr with career-high marks in sacks (5) and QB hits (10). Go rush win price slotted the previous third-round decide sixth amongst inside D-linemen, who added two sacks and a pressured fumble in Tremendous Bowl LIX. Like Sweat, Baun and Becton, Williams made some cash this previous season.
Elsewhere on the Tremendous Bowl champions’ roster, Landon Dickerson is more likely to bear knee surgical procedure (via the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane). The Professional Bowl guard left the NFC championship sport with a left knee illness and performed by means of it within the Tremendous Bowl. The Eagles have the All-Professional guard signed to a position-record $21M-per-year deal.
