Report: Former Badgers LB Zack Baun had a diluted urine sample at NFL Combine
Zack Baun was expected to be the first Wisconsin player taken in next week’s NFL Draft, and that may still end up happening. But, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the outside linebacker might have hurt his draft stock after it was determined he had a diluted urine sample at the NFL Combine in February.
Wisconsin’s Zach Baun, the third-rated linebacker on Mel Kiper Jr.’s board, notified all 32 teams that he testified positive for a diluted sample at the combine that he blamed on drinking too much water for weight-related weigh-in purposes, per league sources.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 14, 2020
Baun weighed in at 238 pounds, three pounds heavier than he was listed during his senior year with the Badgers.
A diluted test doesn’t mean Baun tested positive for any type of illegal substance. It just means his urine sample had a higher than average water content, which is one way to minimize drug levels visible to the testers.
However, Schefter pointed out that under the new CBA, the diluted sample will not act as a positive test.
Here’s an interesting twist regarding Zach Baun testing positive for a diluted sample at combine: Under the NFL’s new CBA, it will not count as a strike against him whereas it would have under the NFL’s old CBA. Therefore, teams don’t believe it will impact his draft status much. https://t.co/Xw8Q7dTqqb
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 14, 2020
Baun is projected as a late first-round or early second-round pick.