The Possibility of an Anthony Barr Extension
Mitchel Massman
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On Thursday, February 17th, Kevin O’Connell held his introductory press conference at TCO. At one point, he discussed the players on the defensive side of the ball that he was eager to work with. One of those names, Anthony Barr. This begs the question, do the Vikings want to re-sign Barr?
The current linebacker room for the Vikings is Eric Kendricks and some special teams contributors. It’s no secret that they need to add depth at the linebacker position. Really, they need players all over the defense. However, the linebackers in a Vic Fangio defense play a versatile role.
A Fangio defense requires linebackers to move side to side, rush the passer well, simulate pressure, drop back in coverage, and shoot gaps to stop the run. Anthony Barr does all of these, particularly rushing the passer. His ability to get after the quarterback and force protection shifts is ideal for the Vikings’ new Defensive Coordinator, Ed Donatell.
Is Anthony Barr Worthy of an Extension?
Anthony Barr has taken a lot of heat over the last couple of seasons. Many fans believed that he was paid too much money for his level of play. Some others believe that his injury history is a concern. Others are upset that he got hurdled by Josh Allen in 2017. His injury history and contract are serious issues that the Vikings will need to evaluate. However, there are particular parts of his talent that are appealing.
- Barr is an excellent pass rusher. When Zimmer dialed up a blitz that involved him, the goal was to get Barr one on one with a running back or force protection shifts. A protection shift would often result in someone like Hunter or Griffen get a one on one with an offensive tackle. These blitzes often resulted in sacks. Check out the first two plays in this highlight reel.
- Barr is excellent at shooting gaps. One of the most important parts of the linebacker position is the ability to diagnose a play and react appropriately. Barr has been able to do this at a high-level consistenly. Sure, there are times when he has been burned, but that happens to everyone. Blowing up a running play by shooting a gap is worth the risk.
- Barr is a leader in the lockerroom. He has been a team captain for years and holds players accountable. Rewatch the Steelers game this year and focus in on his reaction to Boyd when Boyd had a personal foul for taunting. The Vikings were in the middle of a shutout and a young player did something foolish. He immediately was yelling at Boyd and appeared to be telling him to get off the field. Leadership on the field is important and Barr brings that to the table.
What Would a Contract Look Like?
During the 2021 offseason, the Vikings restructured Barr’s contract. They moved money into 2021 and added a couple of void years in 2022 and 2023. This move made him a free agent in 2022. So, if the Vikings want him back, they will need to compete on the open market. How much does the market value him?
According to overthecap.com, he has a value of $6-7 million per year. Currently, Barr’s cap hit is $9.89 million due to prorated bonus spread across the two void years. The Vikings could extend him in a manner that lowers his cap hit in 2022.
Barr is going to be 30 years old, so he could have a couple more productive years left. Although, his knee issues are a concern, which will lower his value on the open market. Perhaps this means the Vikings could sign him to a 3 year deal with a cap hit of $6 million per year.
While this is far from a sure thing, it’s not a bad idea considering the current needs of the Vikings. Barr would also be a great scheme fit for what Donatell will do in Minnesota. For the right price, they should absolutely bring him back regardless of the knee issue.
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