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Zack Baun | EDGE | Wisconsin
Height: 6-2
Weight: 238
Player Profile
Strengths:
Exploded onto the scene in 2019 with a productive 12.5 sacks and 19.5 tackles for loss. On the field, Baun is as versatile as they come. Wisconsin asked him to do a little bit of everything and the results were consistently great. Whether he was asked to rush the passer, make an impact in the run game or drop back in coverage, Baun was a standout performer in all three areas.
You love some of the measurables and testing results. Good height at 6-2, acceptable weight at 238 pounds, the arm length (32 3/4”) to play on the edge at the next level and great hand size (9 5/8”) as well. Baun’s 40-yard dash time of 4.65 was solid, and his 3-cone time of seven seconds flat reflect the short-area agility and explosiveness that was obvious on film.
It may sound cliche, but Baun reminds me a lot of T.J. Watt, another off-ball linebacker that came out of Wisconsin a few years ago. There was some discussion about how Watt would fit at the next level, but his success should make things a little easier on how to project Baun.
Baun never takes a snap off. His motor is consistently running hot. You love the attitude, effort and pedigree on a snap-by-snap basis. His motor and understanding of how to compete for his gap make him an efficient player in the run game.
As a pass rusher, Baun is technically advanced. His footwork is excellent and he has a high understanding of how to string moves together. He has a variety of moves in his arsenal and can threaten as a rusher both inside and outside.
Weaknesses:
A good, but not great athlete. The explosion results (115-inch broad jump and 32.5-inch vertical) were quite poor. He’s someone that will have to rely more on technique than physical dominance at the next level. He may struggle against some of the bigger, more athletic linemen at the next level. The medicals will be important as Baun suffered a broken foot in 2018 and had a separate foot injury in 2017 as well. The 12.5 sacks in 2019 were great, but had a combined 2.5 sacks in the two seasons prior to that.
Does he fit the Titans?
I think Baun would make a lot of sense for the Titans with the 29th pick, even when factoring in the Vic Beasley signing. In an ideal world, Baun would land on a pro team that’s creative with their defense and has the ability to think outside the box. You can’t, and shouldn’t pigeonhole him into one specific role or position. You will get maximum results out of Baun by moving him around your defense and asking him to impact the game in a variety of ways. Mike Vrabel has consistently shown that he’s a forward thinker in his time as the Titans head coach, and has employed a versatile, multiple defense. Placing Baun in this Titans defense would appear to be a match made in heaven to me.