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 on account of extensions that introduced pay cuts final yr.
This yr’s free company interval is unlikely to function 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 compelled 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 actually proved he suits 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, actually,” Baun stated of his second crack at free company via PHLY’s Zach Berman. “…Hopefully it’s right here. I like this place. I respect what they’ve performed for my profession and my household — simply all the pieces. I acquired lots of choices to weigh.”
The Eagles have some essential 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 will likely be in search of 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 test 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 cheap he might 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 quite a few dear extensions, as void years and possibility bonuses flood Howie Roseman‘s payroll. If the Eagles lose Baun, they’d have a obvious 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 best way of funds to this place in recent times, however Dean’s newest damage gives a complication.
Williams mentioned a want to remain in a profitable state of affairs. That’s usually not prioritized by gamers in search of 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 possibility by Could. Williams could possibly be an odd man out, because the Eagles determine to be saving as much as lengthen the Georgia alums down the road. This might actually imply Williams’ finest affords 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 attainable.”
Greater than two years youthful than Baun, Williams will likely be 26 by Week 1 of subsequent season. He completed his contract yr with career-high marks in sacks (5) and QB hits (10). Move rush win fee slotted the previous third-round decide sixth amongst inside D-linemen, who added two sacks and a compelled 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 prone to bear knee surgical procedure (via the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane). The Professional Bowl guard left the NFC championship recreation 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.
