If you’ve been playing Madden lately, you know the feeling. You’re scanning the Philadelphia Eagles roster, looking for that one linebacker who can actually cover a crosser without looking like he’s running through sand. You see the name. Zack Baun.
But then you look at the zack baun madden rating and things start to feel a little... off.
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Look, we’ve all been there with EA Sports. One week a player looks like the second coming of Lawrence Taylor, and the next, his digital counterpart is stuck with a mid-70s finesse move that makes him a liability in a blitz. For Zack Baun, the journey from a "who is that?" special teamer in New Orleans to a legitimate Super Bowl hero in Philly has been a wild ride. Honestly, his Madden stats have struggled to keep up with his real-life glow-up.
The Disconnect Between the Field and the Console
Let’s talk numbers. In Madden 25, Baun started as a relatively obscure Core Silver/Gold level player. We're talking a 76 OVR. If you were playing Franchise Mode back in August, he was basically depth. Fast forward through the 2024 season, and the man didn't just play; he exploded.
He finished that 2024 campaign as a First-Team All-Pro with 150 tackles. He was a Defensive Player of the Year finalist. Naturally, the Ultimate Team (MUT) cards started reflecting that. We saw a 90 OVR Team of the Week (TOTW) card, a 94 OVR Playoffs version, and eventually a massive 97 OVR Team of the Year (TOTY) item.
But here is the kicker. Even with those high-end cards, the community was heated. On Reddit and Muthead, the consensus was clear: EA didn't know how to "flavor" him. They gave his 94 OVR card "Speed Rusher" archetypes with subpar coverage stats, even though Vic Fangio had him playing off-ball linebacker and locking down the middle of the field.
One user on r/MaddenUltimateTeam put it perfectly: "EA doesn't watch ball." They gave him the El Toro ability, which is great for a bull rush, but his traits didn't even allow him to trigger the move properly. It’s those little details that drive Madden vets crazy.
Breaking Down the Madden 26 Launch
Now that we’ve moved into the Madden 26 cycle, the zack baun madden rating has stabilized a bit, but it still feels like he's fighting for respect. He launched as an 84 OVR Core Elite—a massive jump from his previous base rating, but still a tier below the "superstar" linebackers like Fred Warner or Roquan Smith.
By October 2025, his Redux card hit an 88 OVR. Here’s what the "under the hood" stats looked like for that version:
- Speed: 86
- Acceleration: 86
- Play Recognition: 86
- Zone Coverage: 87
- Tackling: 86
It’s a solid card. It’s usable. But is it "All-Pro" level? Probably not. The game seems to penalize him for being a "tweener"—too small to be a pure edge rusher in the game's engine, but not "silky" enough in his animations to be a top-tier pass coverage specialist.
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Why the Rating Matters for Eagles Fans
If you're running an Eagles Theme Team, Baun is a mandatory start. Period. But the frustration lies in his "feel." In the real NFL, Baun is a heat-seeking missile. He led the Eagles in tackles again in 2025 with 123 stops.
In Madden, however, "tackles" isn't really a stat. It's a combination of Pursuit, Awareness, and Hit Power. Because Baun doesn't have 95+ Hit Power, he doesn't get those "Enforcer" animations as often as someone like Ray Lewis. You’re basically relying on his 86 Speed to chase down quarterbacks, which, in 2026, is barely enough to catch a Lamar Jackson or a mobile Caleb Williams.
It's sorta funny, actually. Baun can solve a Rubik’s Cube in under a minute—real fact, check the Eagles' media guide—but Madden’s AI sometimes struggles to let him solve a simple RPO.
The "Paid" Slump and Ratings Fluctuations
There was a lot of chatter after Baun signed his three-year, $51 million extension. Some critics pointed to a "dip" in his 2025 production. His PFF grade fell from a league-high 90.1 in 2024 to a much more "human" level in late 2025. He even had a rough 48.3 grade game against the Niners recently.
EA is notoriously reactionary. When a player has a bad week, the "Roster Update" hammer comes down hard. We’ve seen his mid-season rating fluctuate by 1 or 2 points based on whether he recorded a sack or got burnt in a wheel route.
How to Maximize Zack Baun in Your Lineup
If you’re frustrated by the current zack baun madden rating, you’ve got to get smart with the chemistry and abilities. Don't just slap a basic scheme on him and hope for the best.
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- Lurk Artist is King: On his 88 OVR Redux and higher versions, Lurk Artist is a must. It negates that annoying "linebackers don't jump" mechanic that has plagued Madden for years.
- Eagles Chemistry: Even a 25/50 Eagles chem boost gives him +1 Speed. That 86 turns into an 87, which is a massive threshold in competitive play.
- The Sub-LB Slot: Stop playing him at LOLB or ROLB in your depth chart. Move him to Sub-LB in the specialist tab. This puts him on the field in Nickel and Dime packages, where his 87 Zone Coverage can actually do some work against tight ends.
Baun’s story is still one of the best in the league. He went from a guy the Saints didn't know what to do with to a Super Bowl champion and a rich man. Madden might not always get the "feel" right—they love their big names and flashy archetypes—but for those of us who actually watch the tape, we know what he brings.
The digital version might be an 84 or an 88, but on Sundays, he’s a 99 in terms of heart and hustle. If you want to use him effectively, stop treating him like a pass rusher and start using him like the hybrid weapon he actually is.
Next Steps for Your Roster:
Check the Auction House for the latest Redux version of Baun to see if the price has dipped below 100k coins. If you're playing Franchise Mode, focus his weekly training on "Pass Coverage" to boost that mid-80s Zone rating up to the 90 threshold, which unlocks better "break on ball" animations.