Philadelphia Eagles star Zack Baun was one of the standout players in the team’s Super Bowl-winning 2024 season, earning a bumper new contract in the process. The Eagles were worthy winners in 2024 after showcasing their dominant ability on both sides of the ball.
As the team prepares to defend its title in 2025, Baun pointed out one factor of the team’s defense that should strike fear into the rest of the NFL.
Eagles LB Zack Baun Shares Lofty Expectations for Philadelphia’s 2025 Defense
Baun was named a first-team All-Pro for his work in 2024. Only two players registered more solo tackles than the Eagles linebacker, while only one forced more fumbles. Those performances earned him a three-year, $51 million contract, a sharp increase from the one-year, $3.5 million deal he was on in 2024.
The linebacker recently appeared on an episode of “Exciting Mics,” a podcast hosted by fellow Eagles defenders Cooper DeJean and Reed Blankenship. During the episode, Baun pointed out a fact that makes the team’s defensive showing last year even more impressive.
“I think we have a lot to do as a defense, too. Like, to think that was all of our first year in that scheme, like, what are we gonna do next year?”
The Eagles’ defense allowed just 303 points last season; only the Los Angeles Chargers allowed fewer (301). Now, with a full year under defensive coordinator Vic Fangio in the books, the players feel that they are already a step ahead in 2025.
Zack Baun on the Eagles defense heading into the season:
“I feel like we’re miles ahead of where we were last year” pic.twitter.com/9pC11fW1r8
— Exciting Mics (@excitingmics) June 12, 2025
“Already, I feel like we’re miles ahead of where we were last year at this time,” said Baun. His two young teammates agreed, citing the understanding among the group and the in-depth level of conversations being had in practice.
Eagles Continue to Load Up on Defense via the NFL Draft
Far from content to settle for what they had, the Eagles invested all of their first five picks in the 2025 NFL Draft in their defense (and first three in 2024 draft). After appearing to get a steal in Jihaad Campbell at the end of Round 1, the team landed another exciting defensive playmaker in Texas product Andrew Mukuba in the second.
The team then added a defensive tackle, a cornerback, and another linebacker before finally addressing their offense on Day 3. The focus on defense was most likely a financially motivated one. Jalen Carter, Nakobe Dean, and Nolan Smith are all due for extensions in the not-too-distant future, as well as Blankenship himself.
With offensive stars A.J. Brown, Devonta Smith, and Saquon Barkley all locked in recently, the Eagles could prioritize long-term, low-cost depth on defense. Philadelphia has done a phenomenal job of building through the draft in recent years and looks to be doing a great job of managing its outstanding young roster.