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 high AAVs (C.J. Mosley and Foyesade Oluokun) drop because of extensions that introduced pay cuts final 12 months.
This 12 months’s free company interval is unlikely to function any true threats to eclipse Smith, however one ILB remodeled his market because of 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 12 months — to a first-team All-Professional. Baun virtually 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 choose, which arrange the Eagles deep in Chiefs territory forward of a second-quarter landing. Baun’s breakout 12 months will generate an attention-grabbing 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 matches in Vic Fangio‘s scheme. And he wish to proceed growing in Philadelphia.
“I’m curious. I don’t know what it’ll appear 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 recognize what they’ve finished for my profession and my household — simply every part. I bought a whole lot of choices to weigh.”
The Eagles have some vital 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 elevate 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 shall be in search of a big elevate quickly.
Final 12 months’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 will appear affordable he might goal that worth vary.
Philly is projected to carry greater than $18M in cap area, a mid-pack quantity three-plus weeks forward of the 2025 league 12 months. The group’s inventive 2024 maneuvering on offense confirmed a capability to afford a variety of expensive 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 because of 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 lately, however Dean’s newest damage offers a complication.
Williams mentioned a need to remain in a successful scenario. That’s typically 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 choose up Davis’ fifth-year possibility by Might. 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 provides will come from different groups, and the four-year veteran did add he would need “a scenario to as shut as this as attainable.”
Greater than two years youthful than Baun, Williams shall be 26 by Week 1 of subsequent season. He completed his contract 12 months with career-high marks in sacks (5) and QB hits (10). Move rush win charge slotted the previous third-round choose 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 sport with a left knee illness and performed by way of it within the Tremendous Bowl. The Eagles have the All-Professional guard signed to a position-record $21M-per-year deal.
