A New Home for Anthony Barr?
Josh Frey
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Over the course of his Vikings career, Anthony Barr was a great starter at the linebacker position.
However, when Kwesi Adofo-Mensah took over as general manager in 2022, a youth movement began in Minnesota. As a result, Barr was allowed to walk in free agency following the 2021 season. However, the former Vikings linebacker could soon find a new home if recent reports are to be believed.
Dianna Russini of ESPN tweeted on Monday morning that Barr would be working out for the New Orleans Saints. The tweet read, “The Saints are not only working out running back Kareem Hunt, they are also working out linebacker Anthony Barr today, per source.”
Barr was selected with the 9th overall pick by the Vikings in the 2014 NFL Draft, and he immediately started 12 games for the team. During that rookie season, he put together 70 tackles, 6 tackles for loss, 4 sacks, 3 passes defended, and 2 forced fumbles.
In the following years, the linebacker would emerge as one of the best talents in the entire league. He was named to the Pro Bowl in every season from 2015-18. His career was highlighted by a 2017 season in which he recorded 75 tackles and nine TFLs during the regular season. The Vikings were the best in the league in both points allowed and yards allowed, making their way to the NFC Championship Game.
In the end, Anthony Barr finished his tenure with the Vikings struggling with injuries. He missed all but two games in 2020 because of a torn pectoral muscle, and he played just 11 games in 2021. He recorded 72 tackles and just three TFLs during his last year as the Vikings finished the season 8-9 but 6-5 with him in the lineup. In all, the former 9th overall pick recorded 39 TFLs and forced eight fumbles while intercepting five passes over his eight years with the Vikings.
He signed a one-year contract with the Dallas Cowboys prior to the 2022 season. In Dallas, he recorded 58 tackles, a pair of tackles for loss, a sack, and a pass defended over the course of 14 games. 10 of those games were starts for Barr on a Cowboys defense that gave up the sixth-fewest points during the season.
Now, Barr is hoping to catch on with a Saints defense that lost a number of notable pieces this offseason. This included LB Kaden Elliss, who started 11 games for New Orleans last season. Elliss signed with the Atlanta Falcons this offseason, leaving a hole at the position.
If Barr were to sign with New Orleans, he would join a LB room that holds Demario Davis, Pete Werner, Zach Baun, Anfernee Orjil, D’Marco Jackson, Ryan Connelly, Nick Anderson, Ty Summers, and Nephi Sewell.
Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho and managing editor of PurplePTSD.com. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys running, gaming, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. Check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.