The Denver Broncos are projected to enter free agency later this spring with around $48 million in salary cap space, which is the 11th most in the NFL.
CBS Sports thinks the Broncos should earmark some of that cap space for pending free agent linebacker Zack Baun.
Baun began his career with the New Orleans Saints, spending his first four seasons there before signing a one-year deal with the Philadelphia Eagles ahead of the 2024 season. After an impressive season with the Eagles, he’s now primed to land a big free-agent contract.
From CBS Sports: The Broncos got some nice play from Cody Barton, but Sean Payton could decide to upgrade with a player he drafted in the third round back in 2020 with the Saints. Baun was one of the best players in the entire NFL this past season, as he recorded 151 combined tackles and 3.5 sacks in the regular season, and then became the first player to record 10 tackles, one forced fumble and a fumble recovery in a conference championship game or Super Bowl since Charles Tillman in Super Bowl XLI. Baun cashes in with Denver after a career year in Philly.
ESPN’s Dan Graziano noted on Friday that Philadelphia probably won’t be able to afford to re-sign Baun this offseason as the Eagles won’t have much cap space available.
From ESPN: The Eagles landed Baun on a one-year, $3.5 million contract last offseason, and he turned into one of the top bargains in the league. He had a Defensive Player of the Year-caliber regular season, helping fuel a defensive turnaround that landed Philadelphia in the Super Bowl. He’ll obviously be looking for much more on the open market, and the Eagles may not be able to keep him around. Per Roster Management System, Philadelphia has $7.9 million in cap space for 2025 and multiple free agents to consider.
Graziano projects that Baun will receive a four-year deal worth $60 million with $35 million in guaranteed money.
Baun, a former Wisconsin standout, excelled in his first full season as a starter, totaling 151 tackles and 3.5 sacks for the Eagles in 2024.
Adding Baun to an already stingy Denver defense would certainly give the Broncos a better chance of unseating the Kansas City Chiefs in the highly competitive AFC West.
