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How will the Eagles use free agent pickup Zack Baun? originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
Zack Baun is ready to play anywhere.
But it’s pretty clear he’d like to rush the passer.
A couple days after agreeing to terms with the Eagles on a one-year deal, the veteran linebacker said last week that he’s interested to see where the coaches decide to play him in 2024.
“I’m not particularly sure about the plan,” Baun said. “But I have a lot of experience doing both and I think I can do both at a high level. So I’m interested to see where the coaches utilize my skillset and decide to play me. But I’m down to play wherever and do whatever.”
The Saints drafted Baun in the third round out of Wisconsin in the 2020 draft and played him at off-ball linebacker for the first few years of his career. But he played minimally on defense.
It wasn’t until 2023, when a combination of injuries and solid practice reps gave Baun a chance to finally be used as a pass rusher, that he really showed what he could do. Baun definitely provided a spark with a couple sacks and four quarterback hits.
Baun said Saints veteran defensive end Cam Jordan would be on the sideline helping him prepare his rush plan and the other Saints edge rushers were excited to help as well.
“So supportive and so encouraging,” Baun said. “Because at my time in New Orleans, they all knew I could pass rush, they’ve seen it. But I just never got the opportunity. So when I finally got my opportunity, they were excited for me.”
Since signing Baun, the Eagles have added a couple off-ball linebackers in Devin White and Oren Burks. It would have been a mistake for the Eagles to sign Baun as a solution to their linebacker problem.
At 6-foot-3, 225 pounds, it’s not like Baun is going to be an every-down edge rusher either. He’s more like a hybrid rusher in an off-ball linebacker’s body. He should end up filling a very specific role in Vic Fangio’s defense in 2024 as an undersized…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/eagles-free-agent-pickup-zack-122741489.html
Author : NBC Sports Philadelphia
Publish date : 2024-03-18 12:27:41
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