Zack Baun
EDGE
Wisconsin
Strengths
6' 2"
Height
Weight
238
Bench | 40-Time | 10-Time | 20-Time |
|---|---|---|---|
Vertical | Broad Jump | 20-Shuttle | 60-Shuttle |
|---|---|---|---|
3-Cone | Hand | Arm | Wingspan |
|---|---|---|---|
Final Grade
6.86
Tore Meniscus in Right Knee: Required Surgery (2016), Torn Lisfranc Ligament in Left Foot (2017), Re-injured Left Foot (2018)
Injury History
Games Evaluated
2019 Vs: Illinois, Michigan State, Penn State
Team Fit
NYG
CIN
BAL
High motor player who is always looking to make a play on the ball carrier. Good athlete who does a great job moving in a lateral direction as well changing his direction when trying to get to the QB. Really does a good job following the QBs eyes in pass coverage as well as keeping his eyes on the ball carrier. Verstatility can rush the passer, stop the run, and drop into coverage. Defensive coordinators should be able to get creative in his usage. Will rip off blockers and run after the ball carrier. Productive all-around had 12.5 sacks, 76 tackles, and 19.5 tackles for loss in 2019. Shows patience on RPOs and Zone reads.
Weaknessess
Perhaps the biggest weakness teams will automatically notice is Bauns size at 6'2", 238 lbs as he lacks the size of an NFL edge rusher and this could make him more prone to injuries. One hit wonder with only one dominant season at Wisconsin. At times will struggle to counter against opposing tackles and will stick to the same path to get to the QB. May struggle against the bigger tackles due to small frame
Big Picture
Baun is a guy that can bring a lot of energy to a defense. His high motor style of play and versatility will allow defensive coordinators to use him in several creative and impactful ways. When watching him play he reminds me of Clay Matthews Draft Projection: 2nd Rounder. Team Fits: Baltimore Ravens, New York Giants, Cincinnati Bengals, Kansas City Chiefs
Player Comp
Clay Matthews
Athleticism:
6.7
Lateral Agility | Flexibility | Explosiveness | Playing Strength | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
6.5 | 7 | 7 | 6.5 |
Great athlete who has the quickness and speed to cover RBs and TEs in the passing game. Once in range of quarterbacks he will initiate contact by extending his arms. Very explosive off the line of scrimmage and will blow by tackles around the edge and will close in on quarterbacks. Will maintain balance thanks to his flexibility when going through contact. Is able to reach on ball carriers in open space. Moves well laterally in space and is able to accelerate back down towards the ball.
6.7
Pass Rush Ability:
First-Step Quickness | Use of Hands | Leverage | Pass Rush Moves | Finish Ability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
6.8 | 7 | 6.7 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
Big Play Ability
Will beat tackles around the edge thanks to his initial quickness and ability to explode off the line of scrimmage. Lot's of arm extensions to create separation and space. When Baun does rush the passer he does it with a high motor and will fight hard on every play. Lots of different moves such as hand chopping, swim moves, spin moves, and speed rushes around the edges. Putting on more weight in the upper body will help improve his power. Will win off his first step, strides, athleticism, and with explosiveness around the edge.
Against The Run:
6.6
His eyes are always staring down the ball carrier. One of his biggest strengths is his ability to rip and run as he will rip off blockers and chase down ball carriers. Thanks to his high motor he is always looking to make the play and will always be in pursuit of the running back playside and is a great chase player on the backside. Good open-field tackler and does a great job extending his arms out in the open field to make tackles and will also go low for the legs at the point of the tackle. Won't consistently shoot his way through gaps. Is able to react quickly and suddenly on who has the ball and the direction of the play.
Set the Edge | Stack and Shed | Range | Gap Shooting Ability | Tackling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
6.8 | 5 | 6.8 |
Competitiveness:
7.67
Toughness | Consistency/Motor | Disruption |
|---|---|---|
7 | 8 |
No doubt my favorite quality. Baun is a great competitor and high motor player who is always looking for the ball even when on the backside of the play. Was productive in all areas last season racking up 76 tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss, 12.5 sacks, a pick-six and two pass deflections. A big question here is he had only one big year at Wisconsin in 2019 as he wasn't much of a factor in 2018 and was injured in 2017.
Intelligence:
7.5
Does a great job showing patience on run-pass options as well as zone-read plays which helps him recognize where the play is going. Always has his eyes in the backfield and is patient to attack. Improved greatly from 2018 to 2019 and showed he is capable of being a reliable defender in multiple areas of the game. Great teammate and was voted a team captain for the 2019 season.
Awareness | Play Recognition | Position Versatility |
|---|---|---|
7 | 7.5 | 6.67 |