Let’s take a break from safety trade options for the Buffalo Bills ahead of this year’s NFL trade deadline and focus on the linebacker position.
Today we’ll zero-in on Eagles linebacker Zack Baun, a seven-year, late-blossoming veteran with over 3,300 career snaps on his NFL resume (counting playoffs) who resides on a Philadelphia team that sits at 2-5 entering Week 8 and has already placed Jalen Hurts on season-ending IR.
This article is the eighth in the trade-candidate series I’ll continue to sprinkle
onto the site until the actual trade deadline until November 10, which is 12 days from now and lands after Week 9.
Past installments in this series:
Derwin James, Brian Thomas Jr. Jessie Bates, Tariq Woolen, Amani Hooker, Antoine Winfield Jr., Cam Bynum
Age: 29
Baun was a star at the University of Wisconsin from 2015 – 2019, and vitally here, emerged under the direct tutelage of then Badgers defensive coordinator and current Bills defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard.
He was a third-round pick by the Saints in 2020 and began his career mostly where he thrived in college — on the edge, as a two-point stance rusher.
While he never flourished in New Orleans, his final season there was respectable productive, as he finished with 10.9% pressure rate, 30 tackles, four for a loss, two pass breakups, and one interception.
It did feel like the Saints never really knew how or where to deploy the uniquely built 6’3”, 225-pound outside rusher.
He signed a one-year, $3.5M deal with the Eagles in 2024, and Philadelphia transitioned him to a full-time off-ball linebacker role — that also provided plenty of pass-rushing opportunities as a blitzer. All Baun did was earn first-team All-Pro honors with 151 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, five forced fumbles, and four pass breakups during the regular season.
Baun also led the team in tackles (33) and interceptions (2) during the playoffs as the Eagles won the Super Bowl. That led to Philadelphia signing Baun to a three-year, $51M deal.
2026 snap splits
Box: 82.5%
Slot defender: 11.7%
Defensive line: 4.6%
*Baun has played two snaps each at free safety and wide corner — among his 408 snaps to date — this season.
It’s rare to see a mid-career team and position switch go as magnificently as what has transpired in Philadelphia with Baun. The past two seasons with the Eagles, he actually set career highs in pressures (16 each year), despite never reaching 100 pass-rushing opportunities.
He’s fast, fluid, surprisingly adept in coverage, a relatively sure tackler, and has maintained his pass-rushing skill despite being off the ball at linebacker.
How he’d fit with Bills
As a huge believer in Kaleb Elarms-Orr, who has started to play more in Buffalo’s three-man inside linebacker rotation, I can’t say there’s a clear-cut spot for Baun to seamlessly move into right now.
However, if the Bills feel either Dorian Williams — who’s rookie deal expires after this season — or Terrel Bernard — who’s playing on the second year of his four-year extension — aren’t playing to their standard, Baun could certainly be viewed as a plug-and-play option who’d also provide some pass-rushing juice.
Financial obligation for Bills to trade for him
2026 salary: $1.215M
If the Bills trade for Baun after Week 9, they’d be on the hook for $607,500 in prorated 2026 base salary. Cheap.
However, there’s a $14.405M option bonus in 2027. That, coupled with his $1.315M in base next season, a $1M roster bonus, and a $250k workout bonus would bring his 2027 cap number to an even $17M.
Of course, the Bills could negotiate and come to terms on a new agreement with Baun if this trade is made.
Projected cost to acquire
Using Syndicate32.com’s trade machine, the projected cost to trade for Baun, is an late Round 2 pick in 2027 plus a Round 7 pick in 2028.
While it initially seems a touch high for a nearly 30-year-old linebacker… Baun’s super-cheap base salary in 2026 does boost his value on the trade market for the Eagles.
Should the Bills trade for Zack Baun?
I love the Baun-Leonhard connection. And that very well could be the catalyst for this move.
I do not love the idea of moving a second-round selection for someone at linebacker who turns 30 in December.
As a player, Baun can be an all-encompassing force multiplier for the front seven. And if the Bills linebackers are having problems grasping the nuances of Leonhard’s scheme, in theory, Baun would be able to mentor others while acting as extension of Leonhard on the field at one of the inside linebacker spots.
Baun would be fun — and the low 2026 financial commitment makes this possibility more likely than others — I would not love Buffalo coughing up a second-round selection for an off-ball linebacker who’ll turn 31 next season.
If the Bills can acquire Baun for a Day 3 pick, then I’d view it as a shrewd move for the Buffalo at this juncture.
