Some NFL players burst onto the scene immediately living up to their pre-draft expectations. Others take longer to find their stride, often developing outside the spotlight. Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Zack Baun seemingly falls in the latter category.
The 2024 Pro Bowler has also proven himself worthy of an All-Pro designation. He is a prime example that a change of scenery and better fit can do wonders.
After years of quiet development, Baun exploded onto the scene this season. He has received acclaim which has now trickled over to Pro Football Focus (PFF).
Pro Football Focus's selection process for its Breakout Player of the Year Award
PFF's annual awards celebrate excellence and improvement, with winners chosen by a voting process. That process is exclusive to 28 senior analysts, contributors, and PFF staff members.
These experts rely on data-driven insights and deep knowledge of the game to highlight the NFL’s most impactful players. This year, Zack Baun garnered 16 of 28 votes and won PFF's Breakout Player of the Year honor. He beat runner-up Sam Darnold (5 votes) and third-place finisher Kerby Joseph (4 votes).
Zack Baun: PFF's 2024 Breakout Player of the Year
— PFF (@PFF) January 8, 2025
🏆 90.1 PFF Grade (1st among LBs)
🏆 PFF First Team All-Pro LB pic.twitter.com/IrqplvyMkJ
Zack Baun’s journey to success is one of accepting and embracing change.
Baun’s journey to NFL stardom wasn’t linear. Drafted in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft by the New Orleans Saints, he initially struggled to establish a defined role.
At Wisconsin, Baun thrived as an edge defender finishing his career with 154 tackles, 15 sacks and 32 tackles for loss. In his senior season (2019), he earned a 90.9 pass-rushing grade, but his “tweener” frame (6-foot-3, 235 pounds) led to positional uncertainty in the NFL.
During his four seasons with the Saints, Baun played sparingly, averaging just 171 snaps per year with a 59.6 defensive grade. Seeking a fresh start, he signed a one-year, $3.5 million deal with the Eagles ahead of the 2024 season.
A career season comes to light in Philadelphia.
Zack Baun has thrived in Vic Fangio’s defense, transitioning into an off-ball linebacker role. This shift unlocked his potential, allowing him to log 656 snaps in the box—533 more than any season in New Orleans.
Baun is excelling across multiple facets of the game. He leads all linebackers in coverage grade this season while also coming up clutch in stopping the run, recording 15 stuffs and 11 tackles for loss.
From Weeks 8-10, Baun was the NFL’s highest-graded overall defender (93.7). He also ranked as the second-most valuable linebacker in the league by PFF’s Wins Above Replacement (WAR) metric, behind only veteran Bobby Wagner.
Zack Baun’s 2024 [regular] season in review:
- 151 total tackles (tied for 6th in the NFL)
- 5 forced fumbles (tied for 1st in the NFL)
- 90.1 overall PFF grade (highest among linebackers)
- 91.6 coverage grade (best among all linebackers)
- 29 coverage stops (most among all defenders)
Zack Baun looks to shine again in a Week 1 rematch against the Green Bay Packers this Sunday.
The Eagles are gearing up for a highly anticipated Wild Card Round matchup against the Packers, a rematch of their Week 1 showdown. In that game, Zack Baun set the tone for his breakout season with a stellar performance, recording 11 tackles, two sacks, and two stuffs.
Now, as the heart of Philadelphia’s defense, Baun has the opportunity to once again make a game-changing impact and help the Eagles advance deeper into the playoffs. Tune in this Sunday (4:30 pm EST) to see PFF’s Breakout Player of the Year on full display!