NFL Bombshell: Philadelphia Eagles Set for Major Overhaul as Two Top Stars Prepare for Departure in Blockbuster Deal Following Nick Sirianni……Read more

The two players selected in the third round of the draft have successfully come into their own and have the potential to develop together for many years to come if Howie Roseman is able to handle the business.
Prior to the start of the Eagles’ season, the linebacker position was considered to be a potential area of weakness, or at the very least, an area of unknown. Not any longer, especially considering the recent improvements made by Zack Baun and Nakobe Dean.

It took them a couple of years to establish their rhythm, but now that they have, it does not appear like they are slowing down in any way. The exact opposite is true. Both are gaining ground and have the potential to make their first appearances in the Pro Bowl. They were ranked as the top two linebackers in the league by Pro Football Focus for both Week 8 and Week 9.

To add insult to injury, they have been significant contributors to a defense that, as was to be expected, has needed a few games to get its act together.

The linebackers for the Eagles have been outstanding in both of their most recent visits to the Super Bowl. Nigel Bradham and Mychal Kendricks were the ones who won the championship in 2017, the year that they became champions. Kyzir White and T.J. Edwards were the ones who did it in 2002.

During that year, White was given a one-year contract, but he ultimately left the team in free agency. Considering that Baun is also on a one-year contract, it would be in the best interest of General Manager Howie Roseman to extend his contract sooner rather than later rather than allowing him to leave the team.

It’s possible that Roseman would if he listens to what Dean had to say after the Eagles completed their fourth consecutive victory, which brought their record to 6-2.

Dean remarked, “The longer the season goes on and the more we play together, the more we establish ourselves as more than just teammates.” “You have the impression that you are playing with a brother or a close friend on the other side of the world. The more and more we play together, the more and more we kind of learn each other’s habits and what we like and don’t like about one other. We kind of operate off of each other.

Over the course of the fourth quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on November 3, 2024, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America, Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Nakobe Dean (17) successfully intercepts a pass in the final seconds of the game against Jacksonville Jaguars running back D’Ernest Johnson (2). Credit must be given to Eric Hartline-Imagn Images. Image courtesy of Eric Hartline-Imagn Photography.
Baun was selected by the New Orleans Saints in the third round of the draft in the year 2020, while Dean was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the year 2022.

“I believe that the excitement was there the moment that we drafted Nakobe,” stated Nick Sirianni, the head coach of the team. I remember coming down with you guys in there, and I was hollering about how delighted we were. I was dripping with excitement. And it has been a very long journey.

When he was a rookie, he was behind two pretty good players named Edwards and White, and he also played on special teams. He has had to fight for his position over the course of his career. And then, the previous year, he suffered an injury that took him out of action. Personally, I believe that we have all had a great deal of faith in Nakobe, and he is continuing to improve every day.

According to Sirianni, there are certain evenings when Dean is still watching tape even as the coach is leaving the premises.

In the words of Sirianni, “There is not a single night in which he is not in there quietly grinding.” I believe that his thinking and leadership are two of the things that set him apart from other people. He is consistently putting effort into that…Due to the exceptional work ethic he possesses, he is able to create exceptional plays such as the one he performed on Sunday.

In this season, Dean has accumulated sixty tackles and two sacks. A total of 43 tackles and a half-sack were scored by him in his first two years of playing football.

In the four years prior to his departure from the Saints, Baun was largely a member of the Saints’ special teams, and he finished his career with 86 tackles, two sacks, and one interception. Since the beginning of the season, he has already racked up 79 tackles, two sacks, and one pick.

During the game against the Jaguars, both he and Baun were successful in obtaining an interception. This was the first time that the Eagles had a pair of linebackers accomplish this feat since September 3, 2000, when Jeremiah Trotter and Carlos Emmons did the same thing against the Cowboys.

To successfully receive a deflect pass, Baun had to reach out to his fullest extent.

As far as Baun is concerned, Sirianni remarked, “He’s just a really good athlete.” While I am aware that he was an outstanding special teams player for the Saints and that he participated in some of the activities that we are currently doing with him, I also know that he is such a good athlete that he is able to bring guys down in the open field. He has a tremendous ability to tackle. Now he is removing the ball from the game. Then there are the unique plays. That was an extremely impressive catch that you made.