Three free agents the Eagles must keep

The Eagles have 18 players set to become free agents in 2025 but some are more important than others. Regardless of what happens in Super Bowl LIX, Philadelphia should do whatever it takes to keep these three.

Zack Baun | LB

Baun was a third-round pick of the Saints in 2020 but was used almost exclusively on special teams. With 30 or fewer tackles in each of his four seasons with New Orleans, Philly fans weren’t necessarily excited when the Eagles brought him in on a one-year, $3.5M contract in the offseason.

Initially, the team thought Baun would compete for an outside linebacker spot but new defensive coordinator Vic Fangio moved him to inside linebacker during an early spring practice. Things couldn’t have turned out any better as Baun led Philadelphia with 151 tackles, a career-high 3.5 sacks and five forced fumbles. 

Not only did Baun finish the regular season as the league’s highest-graded linebacker by Pro Football Focus, he’s also a nominee for the AP Defensive Player of the Year Award. Per spotrac.com, Baun is currently the NFL’s 494th-highest paid linebacker but can expect to sign something close to a two-year, $19M deal in the offseason.

Mekhi Becton | RG

After appearing in just 31 games in four years as a Jet, the 6-foot-7, 363-pound tackle came to Philadelphia to play a backup role before a preseason injury to Tyler Steen forced him into the unfamiliar role of right guard. 

Becton had never played guard at any level of football but didn’t hesitate when given the opportunity to learn a new position, telling offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland, “Let's go! Let's do it,” per Rueben Frank of NBC Sports Philadelphia.