Lost in the hubbub of the Saquon Barkley and Bryce Huff signings was a fringe Eagles addition on Monday:

Okay okay, let’s hold up a minute before doing the scrap heap linebacker joke. “Howie Roseman spends on premium positions and then goes dumpster diving for linebackers, etc.”

The question is whether or not this guy can play.

He can, at least on special teams. He was the Saints’ leader in ST snaps last season and was on the field for 83% of those downs. Similar thing last year, when he played 81% of the special teams snaps. Demario Davis and Pete Werner were the big NOLA linebackers in 2023, but Baun did play 301 defensive snaps, about 27%, which is not nothing.

According to Pro Football Reference, he played all 17 games, got six starts, and logged two sacks and 30 tackles while snagging an interception and hitting the quarterback four times. He was a third round draft pick out of Wisconsin in 2020 and it looks like he’s more of a SAM/EDGE type of tweener and not necessarily a traditional linebacker. We’ll see if they work him in as a situational pass rusher and let him be the de facto Patrick Johnson or Shaun Bradley special teams-focused player. He could be the Christian Elliss of 2024 perhaps.


But in terms of upgrading the actual linebacker spot, the Eagles need to start by finding guys who can run and tackle players. Start with the basics, then improve from there.