Eagles LB Zack Baun Roser Sean Payton prior to the decision on free agency

Seam Denver Broncos Look to upgrade their linebacker Corps, a prominent name on the market and a familiar face to Sean Payton: Zack Baun. Baun was the 74. Election in the 2020 NFL draft of Payton’s New Orleans Saints.

Baun remained with the saints through the four years of his rookie contract and then signed one year agreement with Philadelphia Eagles Last Offseason. He left New Orleans, earned a shot at a Super Bowl and could now be in line for a big contract.

Baun is hitting free agency and Broncos happens to be on the market for an interior linebacker upgrade. In the Super Bowl, Baun was asked about Payton.

“Obviously Sean trusted me, drafted me and acted up to draft me,” Baun said via Coaradio. “So I’m very grateful to him for having done it and I wouldn’t be in this position if it wasn’t for Sean. So a lot of credit to Sean.”

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Of course, players know that they need to be politically aware of these high -profile press conferences. They do not want to risk fines or lose money, especially in a contract year.

However, Baun’s remarks seem real, especially when you hear the praise he has received for the type of person he is. This is especially the case when the player’s former head coach is with a new team with lots of money and a need for the position.

Cody Barton and Justin Strnad don’t cut it to Broncos by Linebacker, especially to close the season. Even with Alex Singleton, which returns from a significant injury, there is a lot of doubt about the position.

Singleton is not guaranteed to be the player he was before the injury, and although he returns to perfect form before ACL, there were problems around his game. Broncos could use a player like Baun with his talent level, play style and leadership qualities.

According to Pro football focusThere were 38 linebackers who played at least 750 snaps on the defense last season, with Baun having the 24th most and 115 fewer snaps than Barton had. Baun first ranked in the overall defensive class, 16. In Run Defense Grade, 15. In tackle of class, 16. In the pass-rush class and first in coverage quality. He had the 20. Most snaps in the cover, but only pulled linebacker with the most with 98 snaps.

Baun was targeted at 11. Receipt. His game in cover was a difference-maker for the Eagles defense. He also brought reliability as a flasher, which is something that Broncos loves to do, and could take advantage of even more if they landed Baun in free agency.

The interior linebacker position is critical for broncos to upgrade, and Baun is an excellent fit schematic with his ability to be reliable in all phases and leaders. With Barton and Strnad’s plays, Broncos can’t trust any of them to be a starter, especially with Singleton coming back from an injury. At least Baun and Singleton do enough to cover the other problems.

It is not always easy to pair a player and team in free agency, but sometimes it is. This is one of these occasions.

Broncos must be willing to use to get Baun in Denver and reunite him with the guy who thrown him off, even if they play/train opposite sides of the football.

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