The Philadelphia Eagles have become one of the most dominant and successful NFL franchises. The organization won its first Super Bowl in 2017, defeating legendary quarterback Tom Brady and the New England Patriots, and hoisted its second Lombardi Trophy in 2024, winning a commanding 40-22 game over Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Eagles have made the playoffs all four years during the Jalen Hurts – Nick Sirianni era, including two Super Bowl appearances. The team recently awarded First-Team All-Pro running back and 2024 Offensive Player of the Year Saquon Barkley with a two-year, $41.2 million contract extension, making him the highest-paid running back in franchise history.
Eagles Re-Sign Zack Baun To Three-Year Deal
The Eagles weren’t done making moves after the Barkley extension, the team is re-signing linebacker Zack Baun to a three-year, $51 million contract. Baun was the Eagles’ top priority this offseason and will remain in the middle of the defense for at least three more years.
After four years of untapped potential with the New Orleans Saints, the Eagles signed Baun to a cheap one-year deal before the 2024 season. He was nothing more than a special teams player and situational edge rusher during his time with the Saints, but Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio unlocked his potential.
Fangio saw traits of an off-ball linebacker when studying Baun’s film and watching him play, transitioning him to the inside. The move paid off as Baun was among the top linebackers in the NFL in 2024, earning Pro Bowl, First-Team All-Pro, and Defensive Player of the Year finalist honors.
Zack Baun started every game other than the meaningless Week 18 matchup against the New York Giants during the Eagles’ Super Bowl-winning season and was the heart and soul of the defense. The 28-year-old was tied for the fifth most tackles (151) in the NFL and didn’t allow a single touchdown in coverage on 68 targets.
Baun consistently made plays on the football, forcing five fumbles and recording an interception during the regular season. He forced a fumble and had two interceptions in the playoffs, including an interception against Mahomes in Super Bowl 59.
Eagles Continue To Pay Players And Manage Salary Cap
General manager Howie Roseman and the Eagles’ front office are among the best in the business regarding the salary cap. Many people around the football world question how the Eagles always seem to find ways to pay their players and bring in high-profile outside talent.
The Eagles think outside the box and look for a competitive edge in all facets of the organization. They’re a well-run organization which is a testament to owner Jeffrey Lurie because not every team has that pleasure.
Roseman is a salary cap wizard. He finds ways to create space every year, allowing the Eagles to retain certain players and still be able to sign impactful free agents or make blockbuster trades.
The Eagles like to create space by restructuring deals and converting base salaries or roster bonuses into signing bonuses. Roseman frequently structures contracts to have lower salary cap hits in the beginning and higher cap numbers near the end and uses void years to manage the cap. The rising NFL salary cap has played a large role in the Eagles’ financial success over the years.
The way that Roseman and the Eagles manage, and in some ways manipulate the salary cap, is why the organization can retain players like Baun and still make impactful moves to improve the team year in and year out.