Tag: Zack Baun

USA TODAY Sports names Zack Baun a ‘steal’ at No. 74

The 2020 NFL Draft came to a close last night with four former Badgers hearing their name come off the board. The four that ended up…

The 2020 NFL Draft came to a close last night with four former Badgers hearing their name come off the board.

The four that ended up being selected, Jonathan Taylor, Zack Baun, Tyler Biadasz and Quintez Cephus, were no surprise. Where one of them fell to, though, was.

During the pre-draft process Zack Baun was pegged as a late-first or early-second round pick.

On draft day, Baun fell to the third round where Sean Peyton and the New Orleans Saints traded up to select him at No. 74 overall.

USA TODAY Sports analyzed this selection and called it one of the steals of the draft.

“It doesn’t always take a first-round pick to secure a first-round talent in the NFL draft,” the article reads. “For teams with the right eye, there’s an opportunity to find tremendous value beyond their highest selection.”

This sentence perfectly describes the Saints’ selection of Baun in the third round.

The defensive line in New Orleans is headlined by Pro Bowl defensive end Cameron Jordan and the 15.5 sacks he recorded during the 2019 season. After Jordan, there is a significant drop in pass-rush production, a role Baun will be able to help fill from Day 1.

Baun’s pass-rush explosiveness paired with his versatility–his ability to cover running backs coming out of the backfield in addition to playing downhill in the run game–is what made him a fringe-first round talent.

While Baun hasn’t played as an off-ball linebacker like the Saints will likely use him, his skillset translates to the role and there is nothing pointing towards Peyton having trouble utilizing his unique talent.

Looking back at draft classes the ongoing story is often when teams select a player, almost as much as it is who they choose to select.

The Saints’ selection of the former Badger all-the-way back in the third round illustrates what people mean by calling a draft pick a “steal,” and should significantly benefit the team and their defensive unit going forward.

How did NFL draft experts rank Saints picks Zack Baun, Adam Trautman?

The New Orleans Saints traded up in the 2020 NFL Draft to pick two highly-rated prospects: Wisconsin’s Zack Baun and Dayton’s Adam Trautman

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The New Orleans Saints spent all of their remaining picks in the 2020 NFL Draft to move up in the third round, targeting Wisconsin linebacker Zack Baun and Dayton tight end Adam Trautman in a pair of trades.

But where did the draft experts project them to be picked? The Saints graded both prospects as top-40 selections internally, and scouting reports from various media outlets also rated them highly. Here’s a quick survey:

The Athletic

Dane Brugler was a fan of the pickups; Trautman was his top-rated tight end prospect, projected to be picked late in the second round or early in the third. While the rookie’s lack of experience at the higher levels of college football is worth noting, Brugler spoke highly of the attributes Trautman brings to the NFL:

Overall, Trautman doesn’t have the body of work vs. top-level competition, but his athleticism and pass-catching traits for a player his size make him a highly intriguing prospect, projecting as a future NFL starter and top-75 draft pick.

As for Baun: Brugler graded the Wisconsin product as his fourth-best linebacker and a fringe first-round talent, talking up Baun’s athleticism in the open field and positional versatility. Brugler’s scouting report summary:

Overall, Baun’s evaluation requires some projection because he won’t be a full-time rusher in the NFL, but he displays the fluid athleticism, smarts and motor to line up as a stack linebacker and nickel pass rusher, projecting as a top-40 prospect.

The Draft Network

Meanwhile, Kyle Crabbs spoke highly of Trautman’s versatile route tree and strength as a blocker, though he acknowledged it’ll take some time before the tight end is ready to contribute against NFL competition:

Trautman has length, burst, dominant reps as a blocker, violent hands and the production you would expect from an NFL talent playing on the smaller competitive fields. Trautman will need time and patience, but he can be a seam busting tight end and red zone threat who can align in traditional alignments or flexed wide.

However, Crabbs’ colleague Joe Marino expressed reservations about the time it will take to get Trautman up to speed. Between his background as a high school quarterback who didn’t catch a game until he arrived at Dayton and the low level of competition he faced there, Marino said, Trautman is very much a developmental pick — but a worthwhile one given his skills.

And while he also anticipates a learning curve for Baun, Marino expects the linebacker to fit in and play often for just about any defensive scheme in the league. Crabbs was in agreement with that take, saying that Baun will find the most success in a defense that allows him to move up all over the field. Marino’s summary:

He projects favorably to a 3-4 outside linebacker role at the next level where his versatility to rush the passer, drop in coverage and defend the run is optimized given his modest mass and length. With that said, I believe he can also play SAM linebacker in 4-3 base defenses and rush the passer off the edge on passing downs, making him a scheme-versatile prospect.

ESPN

While Trautman wasn’t included in every analyst’s top-50 lists, Baun was ranked the 31st-best prospect by Mel Kiper. Kiper credited Baun for his ability to play all over the defensive front and generate pressure off both the left and right sides.

NFL Network

Daniel Jeremiah was also a fan of Baun’s, though Trautman didn’t make his top tier, either. He hyped up Baun’s positional flexibility and all-around athleticism, and has a player comparison in mind:

He spends a lot of time playing over tight ends and gets the best of them in the run and pass games. As a rusher, he has a good initial burst and can really bend at the top of his rush. He has a nifty inside counter move and he can get skinny before closing on the quarterback. He mixes in a stutter/bull rush, but usually stalls out after generating some push. He is very athletic as a dropper in coverage. He is very good as a back-side run defender because of his burst and effort. Teams will differ on where to play him at the next level. He reminds me of former USC LB Uchenna Nwosu, someone whose versatility the Chargers have tapped into. I’d do the same with Baun.

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Of course Zack Baun has a very good dog, with a big Instagram following

New Orleans Saints draft pick Zack Baun is an advocate for adopting dogs, and his own pet “Chance the Yapper” is an Instagram influencer.

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Many New Orleans Saints fans were clamoring for the team to pick a linebacker in the 2020 NFL Draft, and their hopes were fulfilled when the Saints traded up in the third round, targeting Wisconsin prospect Zack Baun.

Baun can play at a very high level. He’s disruptive at the line of scrimmage, and has the skills to make an impact in coverage. Most importantly, he’s the proud father of a very good dog: Chance, a three-year-old golden retriever.

Sidelined during the 2017 season with a torn Lisfranc ligament in his foot, Baun and his girlfriend Ali decided to adopt a dog to help keep his spirits up during recovery.

“When I got injured, I thought it really helped me coming home to a dog everyday,” Baun told SB Nation’s Badgers blog. “It helped my emotional side.”

Baun continued: “Chance, he’s a registered emotional support animal, so he’s just kind of calm and it’s just relaxing to have a dog and a companion that’ll always be there even when things aren’t going so well.”

Named after Chicago-based musician Chance the Rapper — Baun was often listening to his 2016 mixtape “Coloring Book” at the time — the newest addition to their familiar is arguably the most popular. Baun’s girlfriend is a photographer, and their dog is incredibly photogenic, so the logical next step was to create an Instagram account dedicated to him.

Except things got a little out of hand, and now Baun risks getting swarmed by Chance’s fans whenever they visit the local dog park. The account rapidly grew in popularity and now counts more than 3,600 followers.

“Oh my God, it’s ridiculous,” Baun said. “Especially when he was a puppy, not so much now, but nowadays since his Instagram page is getting more popular, people will come up to us and be like,’ Is that Chance the Yapper?’”

So maybe we’ll see Chance — with his family in tow — out and about in New Orleans later this year, once the coronavirus pandemic has subsided and families can start visiting the city’s parks safely again. How’s that for some added star power to the Saints locker room?

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🧀🍺🏈WI

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Saints say all three of their draft picks had top-40 grades

The New Orleans Saints graded each of the prospects they picked in the 2020 NFL Draft highly: Cesar Ruiz, Zack Baun, and Adam Trautman.

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The New Orleans Saints were even more aggressive than usual in the second day of the 2020 NFL Draft, working the phones all day long to find trade partners. And their efforts paid off. The Saints exited the first three rounds with three different prospects they graded among the best players in this year’s draft class.

Of course, that comes with a catch — the Saints traded all of their remaining 2020 draft picks to make it happen, as well as a third-round choice in 2021. But it’s a maneuver they’d be happy to repeat.

Saints general manager Mickey Loomis admitted as much in a conference call with local media after Friday night’s selections were in the books.

“We are excited,” Loomis said. “That’s three players we had in our top 40.”

His thoughts were echoed by Saints coach Sean Payton, who said Wisconsin linebacker Zack Baun (one of the team’s third-round picks) was initially projected to be picked within the first 20 selections of the second round. When he made it past that range, Payton and his team called every team ahead of them to try and cut a deal. After about an hour, they finally found a taker.

With these three rookies in the fold, the Saints have now filled 73 of their 90 offseason roster spots. They can only carry 53 players on the opening-day roster, so there are guys under contract now who won’t make it to September. Punting on the third and final day of the draft makes sense in light of that; the Saints are taking a quality over quantity approach.

But that doesn’t mean they’ll sit out Saturday’s picks entirely. If the value is right, the Saints won’t be afraid to trade future assets to acquire someone they feel can help out right away. With Drew Brees entering the twilight of his career, it’s time the Saints use every resource at their disposal to go chase another Super Bowl.

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Analyzing Zack Baun’s fit with the New Orleans Saints

Zack Baun was a surprising faller during Day 2 of the 2020 NFL Draft as he slipped from being a perceived late-first or early-second…

Zack Baun was a surprising faller during Day 2 of the 2020 NFL Draft as he slipped from being a perceived late-first or early-second round pick to No. 74 where the New Orleans Saints traded up to draft him.

The former Badger now joins a stacked defense in New Orleans with the likes of Malcolm Jenkins, Demario Davis, Cameron Jordan, Marshon Lattimore and Janoris Jenkins.

If the Saints had one weakness in 2019 it was pass-rushing productivity behind the team-leading 15.5 sacks of their Pro-Bowl defensive end Cameron Jordan. Well if there’s one thing Baun does best it’s get after the quarterback, seen best with his 12.5 sacks from a season ago.

Baun overall has a great chance to see the field early due to this void behind Jordan in the pass rush as he will likely battle with former-first round pick Marcus Davenport for reps out wide at defensive end and with Alex Anzalone for reps at linebacker.

Additionally, Baun’s versatility will play to his advantage in New Orleans as defensive coordinator Dennis Allen will look to use him as a pass rusher, run defender and stand-up linebacker in pass coverage.

In terms of team pedigree and total fit this is a great one for Baun as he fell to an extremely-successful franchise with a history of winning. The Saints have also been one of the best defensive teams in the NFL over the last few years and have players all over the defense that will help Baun find himself in positions to succeed from day one.

As to how the Wisconsin native fell this far in the draft? Who knows. But the Saints clearly valued his skillset enough to trade up to select him at No. 74, therefore making it seem like they will utilize him early and often on defense.

So, in total, head coach Sean Peyton‘s team represents a great fit for Baun to begin his NFL career as he works to prove wrong the teams that let him fall all the way to No. 74 overall.

Watch: Saints draft pick Zack Baun’s Wisconsin highlight reel

The New Orleans Saints selected Wisconsin prospect Zack Braun in the 2020 NFL Draft, and he has put together quite the highlight reel.

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It’s one thing to look at a box score and learn that Zack Baun, the Wisconsin linebacker drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the third round of this year’s NFL draft, racked up 12.5 sacks in his senior year. Seeing that he amassed 19.5 total tackles for loss is impressive, but seeing it is a different experience.

So we’ve embedded a few of Baun’s highlight reels in the videos below, so Saints fans can get to know the newest member of the black and gold a little better. Baun was dominant in his senior year for the Badgers, and you can get a great idea of the ways he wins in these cut-ups:

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Zack Baun shares his first message with Saints fans

Wisconsin Badgers linebacker Zack Baun, a New Orleans Saints pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, took time to introduce himself to his new fans.

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Wisconsin Badgers linebacker Zack Baun is now a member of the New Orleans Saints, who traded up to pick him in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft. And he couldn’t be happier about it.

Baun spoke to fans for the first time in a video shared from the official Saints Twitter account, emphasizing how excited he is to join a team with such a strong culture of winning lots of football games. That echoes a sentiment shared by the Saints’ first-round pick, Cesar Ruiz, who was also eager to get to work with a team that owns a winning tradition.

That’s wild to hear given many Saints fans remember the days when the team was lucky to finish the season around .500. But it goes to show just how great of an era of Saints football we’re experiencing. To put it into perspective another way, the Saints have had just two seasons with six or fewer wins in Ruiz’s lifetime.

So, they’re certainly motivated to hit the ground running. You can see Baun’s messages for yourself where we’ve embedded them below:

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Twitter reacts to the Saints trading up for Zack Baun

The New Orleans Saints set Twitter afire by trading up in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft for Wisconsin linebacker prospect Zack Baun

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The New Orleans Saints finally found a trade partner in the third round of this year’s NFL draft, moving up to select Wisconsin linebacker Zack Baun. Baun was considered by some outlets to be a first-round prospect due to his sky-high production in 2019, including 19.5 tackles for loss and 12.5 sacks.

Naturally, fans and observers on Twitter brought some colorful responses to the Saints addressing their most important roster need.

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Full details on the Saints-Browns Zack Baun trade

The New Orleans Saints completed a trade with the Browns in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft, picking Wisconsin prospect Zack Baun.

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The New Orleans Saints finally completed a trade after putting out a lot of smoke that a move was coming during the first two days of the 2020 NFL Draft. They moved up in the third round, vaulting from No. 88 to No. 74 — owned by the Cleveland Browns. The opportunity allowed them to pick Wisconsin Badgers linebacker Zack Buan.

That move cost the Saints the 88th pick, as well as a third-round selection in the 2021 draft. But they were able to recoup a seventh rounder from Cleveland (No. 244), replacing the selection lost in their 2018 trade for cornerback Eli Apple. That will be useful when the team begins planning for undrafted free agency on Saturday, giving them an early bid at landing a player they covet late in the draft.

Additionally, the Saints are projected to receive a third-round compensatory pick in 2021 after losing quarterback Teddy Bridgewater in free agency. So for now, they still have three selections in the first three rounds of next year’s draft. Not a bad spot to be in after addressing their biggest remaining need by adding the best defensive player available.

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NFL Draft: Instant Twitter reaction to Zack Baun slipping to the Saints

Zack Baun heads to New Orleans at 74 after falling out of the first two rounds

It may have come later than many expected, but former Wisconsin ‘backer Zack Baun heard his name called on day two. Baun is headed to —- to be a ——-.

The Twitter discussion from the Badger family began to ramp up when Jonathan Taylor went to the Indianapolis Colts with the number 41 overall selection. Baun himself chimed in to give a shoutout to his former teammate.

Then the speculation turned to where Baun himself would land. Multiple experts covering the Dallas Cowboys felt that the former Badger was a potential target at 51.

After the Cowboys passed on Baun and went with CB Trevon Diggs out of Alabama, speculation turned to the Buffalo Bills picking at 53. The Bills instead went with a different Big Ten defensive stud in DE A.J. Epenesa out of Iowa. As Baun continued to slip, the New England Patriots traded up to 60 to grab a versatile Big Ten pass rusher not named Zack Baun. Michigan’s Josh Uche went to New England at 60 and the former Badger remained in limbo.

All of a sudden, Baun had slipped all the way to 62, where the Green Bay Packers had the chance to keep the first-team all Big Ten performer in the state of Wisconsin. Badger analysts and websites around Twitter felt strongly about Baun going to Green Bay.

Instead, the Packers surprised many by going with running back A.J. Dillon out of Boston College. Count former Wisconsin sharpshooter Brevin Pritzl among the surprised Packer fans.

The Kansas City Chiefs, a team that certain mock drafts linked to Baun at the end of the first round, then passed on the former Badger ‘backer at 63. All of a sudden, the second round came and went without Baun hearing his name.

As the picks began in the third round, the slide continued for the Brown Deer, Wisconsin native. A player that was at the end of the first round in many mock drafts was all of a sudden still on the board in the 70’s. The New Orleans Saints recognized a chance to land a steal and traded with the Cleveland Browns for pick number 74. The Saints keyed in on the Wisconsin stud and landed Baun in the middle of the third round. There were instant reactions from around the Wisconsin sports family.

The Saints landed one of the most versatile prospects in the draft.

Former and current Wisconsin players all showed love for Baun.

Baun becomes the second Badger off the board after Taylor went to the Indianapolis Colts in the second round.