The New Orleans Saints have plenty of problems. Unfortunately, Zack Baun is one of them.
New Orleans is the only team still with a head coach vacancy, and top candidate Joe Brady has pulled out of the race. The Saints must navigate choppy waters this offseason and ensure they are on the right track with the correct coaching hire.
It doesn't help that one of Mickey Loomis' most recent decisions is still haunting the Saints.
Letting Baun leave in free agency felt like a mistake at the time, but it is far worse than ever imaginable. Baun has become a first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowler in his first season for the Philadelphia Eagles.
His outstanding season continued in the NFC Championship Game.
Losing Zack Baun is still haunting the Saints in the NFC Championship Game
Baun has made game-changing plays all season for the Eagles, and he saved one of his best for the biggest stage. Up by four points, Baun ended a promising Washington Commanders drive by forcing a fumble on wide receiver Dyami Brown.
We 💚 Zack Baun@zackbizzaun | #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/dwajIehTDt
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) January 26, 2025
Fortunately for Saints fans, Saquon Barkley's dominant start is stealing the headlines.
Nobody can give the Saints too much of a hard time when Barkley is proving the New York Giants wrong basically every time he touches the ball. He took his first carry for 60 yards to the house and followed it up with a 4-yard touchdown after Baun's fumble.
Still, it hurts.
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The Saints never got this version of Baun. In four seasons in New Orleans, he made 88 tackles, two sacks, six tackles for loss, one interception, and four pass defenses. He had a Pro Football Focus grade below 70 in three of his four seasons.
In just one year with the Eagles, Baun made 151 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 11 tackles for loss, one interception and four pass defenses. He received an elite PFF grade of 90.5.
The Saints couldn't get this level of play out of Baun, who is now an All-Pro, Pro Bowler, and NFL Defensive Player of the Year finalist.
The good news? He's a free agent again this offseason. So, you're saying there's a chance?