Zack Baun's Value A Big Question For New Orleans Saints Entering Free Agency
The New Orleans Saints had just four picks in the 2020 NFL Draft. Their first-round choice, Michigan G/C Cesar Ruiz, has had an up-and-down career at best. Seventh-round pick Tommy Stevens appeared in just one NFL game, with the Carolina Panthers in 2020, and is currently a quarterback in the Canadian Football League. The second of two third-round picks, TE Adam Trautman, caught just 60 passes in three years and was generally a disappointment before being traded to Denver during the 2023 offseason.
Wisconsin edge rusher Zack Baun was drafted by New Orleans with their first third-round selection. The Saints traded up in the third round to grab Baun with the 74th overall pick after 12.5 sacks and 19.5 tackles for loss in his last year with the Badgers.
Mostly a stand-up defensive end in college, the Saints believed that Baun had the agility to convert to an off-ball linebacker in their defensive scheme. He was out of place from the start. Over his first three seasons, Baun played less than 12% of his team's defensive snaps.
Only the fact that he was a special teams standout likely kept Baun on the team. When employed on defense, he often looked uncomfortable in open space and was a major liability in coverage. Yet, at just 225-Lbs., he was undersized as a defensive end in the four-man New Orleans defensive front. Over his first three years, he had a combined four pressures with no sacks and just two tackles for loss.
A poor fit in the Saints scheme, coaches finally started using Baun to his natural strengths midway through the 2023 season. Desperate for a pass rush, the Saints began using Baun as a downhill defender in a stand-up role similar to how he played in college.
New Orleans Saints linebacker Zack Baun (53) sacks Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6). Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY
After a combined 359 defensive snaps in his first three years, Baun played 301 defensive snaps in 2023. He'd record two sacks, four QB hits, 13 pressures, and four tackles for loss along with an interception. While still not outstanding numbers, they are far more impressive when you consider that nearly all of his production came over the last seven games of the year.
Baun saved his best for the final stretch run. Over the last five games of the year, he had two sacks, 11 pressures, four QB hits, and three tackles for loss. Consider that in the first 58 games of his career, he had zero sacks, four QB hits, nine pressures, and three tackles for loss.
Zack Baun is among several Saints who will be unrestricted free agents next month. His best attributes aren't necessarily a fit in every defensive scheme, as we've seen with the Saints. However, he could be valued by a team that employs a lot of 3-4 fronts, where he'd be used as a rush linebacker.
Baun, 27, won't be a high priority for New Orleans in free agency. However, he could be brought back if he doesn't attract much interest on the open market. While not a dynamic player, Baun would bring value as a situational rusher now that the Saints have figured out how to use him after four years.
