• Zack Baun has lastly discovered his residence: Now the most effective linebackers in soccer, the previous New Orleans Saint spent a lot of his profession at edge defender.
• About to money in: After signing a prove-it deal final offseason, count on Baun to develop into one of many highest-paid linebackers this cycle.
• 2025 NFL Draft season is right here: Strive PFF’s best-in-class Mock Draft Simulator and study 2025’s high prospects whereas buying and selling and drafting on your favourite NFL crew.
Estimated Studying Time: 3 minutes
PFF’s award winners are chosen by a voting course of unique to twenty-eight senior analysts, contributors and members of the PFF employees, making certain the selections replicate the insights and experience of these deeply concerned within the sport.
This 12 months’s Breakout Participant of the 12 months is Zack Baun, who earned 16 votes to assert the consideration. The runner-up was Sam Darnold with 5 votes, whereas Kerby Joseph rounded out the highest three with 4 votes.
To view all 2024 award winners, click on right here.
Some NFL superstars are able to take over the league the second they’re drafted, akin to Justin Jefferson or Micah Parsons. They’re usually chosen within the first spherical of their respective drafts as a result of their future stardom is obvious courting again to their collegiate careers.
Others take a while to get acclimated to the skilled sport earlier than making a reputation for themselves. They usually’re incessantly chosen outdoors of the primary spherical of their drafts, flying a bit below the radar as prospects. Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Zack Baun suits that invoice, which is why he’s our 2024 Breakout Participant of the 12 months.
Baun was chosen within the third spherical of the 2020 NFL Draft by the New Orleans Saints, the place he spent the primary 4 seasons of his profession. The previous Wisconsin Badger performed edge defender in faculty, speeding the passer as an out of doors linebacker in Wisconsin’s protection.
He was extremely productive with the Badgers, ending fourth amongst Energy 5 edge rushers in 2019 with a 90.9 pass-rushing grade. Nonetheless, Baun’s tweener measurement (6-foot-3, 238 kilos) had many query the place he would play full-time within the NFL. The Saints additionally had hassle determining that reply, enjoying him at each linebacker and edge rusher. Baun was primarily utilized in only a rotational position, averaging simply 171 snaps a 12 months and a 59.6 defensive grade throughout his time in New Orleans.
The then-27-year-old looked for a recent begin with the Philadelphia Eagles, signing a one-year prove-it cope with Philadelphia value $3.5 million. And with the destiny of his profession possible hanging within the stability, Baun delivered a profession 12 months after which some.
He performed 656 snaps within the field for Vic Fangio’s protection as an off-ball linebacker, 533 greater than any of his seasons in New Orleans. The transfer paid off, as Baun completed because the league’s highest-graded linebacker with a 90.1 PFF grade. From Week 8-10, Baun was the NFL’s highest-graded defender with a 93.7 grade throughout three video games.
The once-elite collegiate pass-rusher was really excellent when dropping again into protection. His 91.6 protection grade was over three factors increased than the next-closest linebacker, three-time All-Professional Fred Warner. Baun’s 29 protection stops had been additionally 5 greater than the next-closest defender, no matter place. He nonetheless made loads of performs downhill for the Eagles as effectively, sacking the quarterback 2.5 occasions whereas tying for second amongst all linebackers with 13 tackles for loss/no acquire. Baun completed because the second-most-valuable linebacker within the league this season based on PFF’s wins above substitute metric, trailing solely a future Corridor of Famer in Bobby Wagner.
Zack Baun lays out for the interception!
📺: #JAXvsPHI on CBS/Paramount+
📱: pic.twitter.com/pzTokw8zIl— NFL (@NFL) November 3, 2024
As soon as an afterthought within the 2024 free company cycle, Baun has blossomed into one of many leaders on the very best protection in soccer. He seems to be like he may develop into the most effective linebackers in soccer for years to return at a place that’s in dire want of extra stars. After signing a prove-it deal final offseason, count on the previous Wisconsin Badger to money in huge this 12 months.
