Reason #1: He would immediately become the NY Giants’ best pass rusher
The athletic linebacker recorded 12.5 sacks, 19.5 tackles for a loss, and 74 total tackles for the Badgers in 2019. After Chase Young, Baun was the best pass-rusher in college football last season. His burst off the edge sticks out on tape and he was a terror for quarterbacks in the Big 10.
Markus Golden led G-Men last season with 10 sacks, but he was not brought back during free agency. Lorenzo Carter was second on the team with just 4.5 sacks. The only pass rushing addition in free agency for Big Blue was Kyler Fackrell, who only had one sack last season for Green Bay.
Baun would step in immediately and become the biggest pass-rushing threat in Patrick Graham’s defense. His 7.0 three-cone drill demonstrates that he has the athleticism to get into the backfield quickly and get after quarterbacks. Maxx Crosby (6.89 3-cone), a rising star for the Raiders that was drafted in the fourth round in 2019, and shows that the 3 three-cone drill is a great indicator of pass-rushing success.
After quarterback, edge rusher is the most important position for a contending team. Zack Baun’s combination of production at the college level, athletic traits, and football IQ would make him the best player coming off the edge for the NY Giants in 2020.