It’s crazy to think how much can change in a single year or two. In 2023, the Philadelphia Eagles had one of the worst linebacker rooms in the league.<\/p>\n
Things weren’t expected to be much better in 2024. Not only did the team sign unproven players like Zack Baun to lower-level deals, but they didn’t address the position in the draft at all.<\/p>\n
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A football miracle happened, though.<\/p>\n
Thanks to the development of their coaching staff with coordinator Vic Fangio leading the way, the Eagles had not just a good linebacker room, but the best in the league.<\/p>\n
Leading the way was Baun.<\/p>\n
A former pass-rushing specialist from the New Orleans Saints, Baun became an off-ball linebacker in Fangio’s system and ended up as a first-team All-Pro for the Eagles in 2024.<\/p>\n
Not only was Baun a defensive player of the year finalist, but he also received a hefty three-year extension worth over $17 million annually over the length of the deal.<\/p>\n
Yes, the Eagles – a team known for their penny-pinching at the linebacker position – paid big money for the best one in the league last year.<\/p>\n
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It shows that the linebacker room in Philadelphia isn’t the only thing to have changed, The Eagles’ mindset in the building for the position has altered since Fangio was bought in. They even drafted Jihaad Campbell in the first round of the 2025 draft in April.<\/p>\n
Campbell is the first linebacker drafted in the first round by the Eagles since 1979.<\/p>\n
It’s just another reminder of how things have changed for the organization – massively – this offseason.<\/p>\n