Will Zack Baun Be 1 Of The Eagles Starting Linebackers?

Linebacker remains one of the biggest question marks for the Eagles. They signed Devin White in the off-season, and it is presumed he will be 1 of the starters. But the other spot is still up in the air between Zack Baun and Nakobe Dean. But based on what we are hearing from the Eagles, Baun might be in the lead. Which is backed up by the fact he is getting the majority of the 1st team snaps.

When the Eagles signed Zack Baun, it was assumed he would be a rotational pass rusher, because that is what he was with the Saints. But then he was the 1st name Vic Fangio mentioned when asked about inside linebackers in his introductory press conference. An odd choice, given how he had never play inside before.

But then he got the snaps there in mini-camp. he continued to get those snaps in training camp. Leading to the conclusion, he might just be their 2nd guy after Devin White.

In his 2nd press conference during Training Camp, Fangio praised the versatility of Baun, saying they will use him inside and out. Devon White was also asked about Baun, and said this.

"Pure effort, pure heart.. sticking his head in on every play on downhill runs. He is just going out there and being relentless."

So it is clear Baun is making an impression. It also helps that the guy he is fighting for that starting spot with is having a tough time.

There is a lot to like about Nakobe Dean. He has the makings of a great leader... if he can get on the field. That is where the problem comes in. Going into year 3 he has still never proven he can be a consistently on the field. He couldn't get on the field year 1, and then battled injuries in year 2.

RELATED: Nakobe Dean Has Makings Of A Great Leader, If He Can Play

Eagles fans got a look at him in Open Practice, and he did not exactly shine. Something Fangio acknowledged. But Fangio also said he has looked good outside of that Open Practice. Given how honest Fangio has been in other areas, you can probably trust him when he says he has liked what he saw from Dean outside that Open Practice. Still, we have heard from reporters on the scene at Training Camp that he is struggling in coverage.

He is still 3rd on the depth chart based on the 1st teams snaps he is getting though. Unlike last season, the Eagles are not anointing him at the start of camp. If he is going to be the other starter, he has to earn it. So far, based on everything we have heard, Baun is ahead of him.

Dean has a few more weeks and 3 pre-season games to change the Eagles mind. Zack Baun certainly seems like the favorite right now.

Every year in Eagles camp, there is some random player who wins the hearts and minds of Eagles fans. Someone who goes from a relative unknown to everyone's favorite player. They smash onto the scene in camp and in preseason games and have fans frothing at the mouth to make the final 53-man roster.

The truth is that player usually does not make the roster, or really ever make it in the NFL. There are outliers, but often times that player who comes out of nowhere in Eagles camp doesn't end up going anywhere.

I am talking about guys like Paul Turner, Rasheed Bailey, Tyree Jackson, and Dane Evans. Often times it is skill players. It is hard for Offensive Linemen to stand out too much. It has happened.

Jordan Mailata is the rare example of that type of guy working out. Alex Villeneuve was a darling as a Lineman, got cut, and made it elsewhere. So sometimes it pans out, and fans were right to fall in love.

Related: Eagles 53-Man Roster Projection Following Mini-Camp

But the vast majority of the guys we fell in love with were WRs, or pass rushers. Those are the guys who have the chance to stand out in camp, or in preseason games by putting up big numbers.

Someone in the second half of preseason games has to get targets. Getting a chance to play against 2nd string, or 3rd string corners or Linemen, might give those players a chance to beat up on their peers a bit. It is why Paul Turner, who never did much in the NFL, was so explosive in Eagles camp.

But who will be that guy this year? Which guy on the fringes of the Eagles roster are fans going to swoon for? Which players can be the standouts at Eagles camp? Whose name will have Eagles fans upset when they inevitably miss the cut?

Speed does not always play in the NFL, but it can play in camp. It is easy to see someone as fast as John Ross impressing in camp with his straight-line speed. With a few long TDs in practice or a pre-season game, Eagles fans will fall in love and think he is going to have a breakout season at 28 years old, 7 years after being drafted.

He is a long shot to make the team, even with a good camp. We have seen him struggle in the NFL. He has had a lot of shots and didn't make use of any of them. But he has the skill set to be a guy who looks good in practice.

Eagles fans love a tall WR. Wilson is tall, with decent speed. Like Ross, he has some traits that could make him stand out in practice.

Does he have the skills to be an NFL WR, we don't know. But he easily could have a big pre-season game and win the hearts of Eagles fans who are crazy enough to be locked into the second half of the 3rd Pre-Season game. Then it is just a matter of if he can crack the roster. But I could see him being a practice squad guy unless he is so good he forces their hand.

An RB from Georgia, of course, Eagles fans will fall in love. I doubt we see much of Barkley or Gainwell in the pre-season. Someone has to get carries. Will Shipley will get a good chunk, but so will UDFA Kendall Milton.

Milton was a fine back in College. There is nothing overly special about him, but he is solid. If he gets a ton of carries in these games, I won't be shocked if he puts up big numbers. I doubt he makes the team though. Barkley, Gainwell, and Shipley are locks. Will they keep a 4th RB? I doubt it. But Eagles fans might fall in love with him anyway.

Ngata was a camp darling last year. He impressed in camp but then was relegated to the practice squad. He will get another chance to be a camp darling this year. But it will be an uphill battle to make the roster yet again. There are a lot of WRs competing for a few spots.

At one point he was a highly touted College recruit. we never quite saw it, which is why he was a UDFA. But the traits that had him highly regarded going into College are still there, and can still show up on a practice field.

Rodgers is already a camp darling and camp hasn't started. There were Eagles fans who swore the Eagles did not need to draft a corner because they had Rodgers. Thankfully the Eagles disagreed and drafted 2 of them.

Rodgers was a good corner for the Colts. But he is no lock to make the team. Cornerback is the busiest position on the team. 4 spots, Slay, Mitchell, Ringo, and Dejean, are locks. That leaves 7 other guys competing for maybe 2 spots. Rodgers having success in the past gives him a leg off, but I can see him getting cut, and I can see Eagles fans losing their mind about it.

Here is a camp darling who might have a chance to break tradition and actually make the team. Smith was compared to Deebo Samuel when he was drafted. The skillset speaks to a guy who would be the perfect WR3 on this team.

But again, cracking the team as a WR may be tough. They need a WR 3 though, so if he impresses in the slot, he does have a chance. of all the WRs here, I think he has the best chance to actually be something.

As a former 1st round pick, Smith does not fit the criteria of the traditional camp darling. He is a lock to make a team and comes in with high expectations. But he is a guy where his skillset has not yet matched production. I can foresee him having a huge camp, making people very excited.

Does that mean he will also be great in the season? Maybe, maybe not. We won't know until the games start. But Smith's big camp had people thinking he would make an impact last season, and he never did. I will be surprised if he is not one of the camp standouts this season too. It is just a matter of if it carries into the season again.