The Vikings ‘Worst Player Contract’ Through a National Lens

Eric Kendricks / Russell Wilson
Dec 2, 2019; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks tight end Jacob Hollister (48) is tackled by Minnesota Vikings outside linebacker Anthony Barr (55) and middle linebacker Eric Kendricks (54) during the first half at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports

The Minnesota Vikings do not holster any ‘albatross’ contracts entering the 2021 NFL season. Many onlookers that are not sold on the quarterback acumen of Kirk Cousins frequently chide the Vikings signal-caller for a fat contract. But those skeptics generally perceive football as a tennis-like or golf-like sport in which one player of 53 single-handedly shapes the outcome of games. A football team consists of 53 players, not one.

Cousins is paid handsomely, though. Last season, his cap hit was a “meager” $21 million, but no one cares about that when devising narratives because it meant Cousins was paid as the 15th highest-paid quarterback leaguewide. Cousins threw the sixth-most touchdown passes in the business (35) in 2020 — significantly higher up the ladder than his 15th-on-the-dial standing for compensation. His salary balloons in 2021 to $31 million, so this September kicks off a high-stakes campaign for Cousins.

Even with the constant doubting of Cousins’ abilities, Pro Football Focus does not classify his contract as the team’s “worst.” That designation belongs to linebacker Anthony Barr. Back in 2019, Barr re-signed with the Vikings after some easterly drama, committing to the team for five more years and $67.5 million. PFF‘s Brad Spielberger offered the opinion and specifically used this as his rationale:

Yet another contract that has since been revised ahead of the 2021 season, with Barr now set to become a free agent after agreeing to a pay cut to stick around for one more year. Barr had reportedly agreed to terms with the New York Jets on a free-agent deal in the 2019 offseason, but just before the ink had dried, the Vikings swooped in at the eleventh hour to bring him back to Minnesota. They certainly regret that decision in hindsight and have now cut his deal short to get out from under it sooner.

Barr as Public Enemy No. 1 for Vikings contracts is likely derived from three sources. First, general manager Rick Spielman has not handed out oodles of irresponsible contracts as some NFL boss men have, so Barr feels like a defacto selection. There’s gotta be one bad contract somewhere on the roster — seems like a justification for Barr’s inclusion on the list.

Then, Barr missed 91% of the 2020 season. The recent memory of his accolades is rather barren as he simply wasn’t around in 2020 to reestablish his usually crucial presence. He — along with Danielle Hunter, Michael Pierce, Eric Kendricks, and Mike Hughes — missed substantial time during the pandemic season, creating sheer pandemonium for a Vikings defense that typically thrives. Evaluating Barr and his salary right now can be considered the low point of his career for doing so. “Of course his contract is awful — he hardly played last year” is the thought.

Third, it not proven that Minnesota shaved off years from his deal this offseason because the team was discontented with his existence on the depth chart. Conversely, Spielman needed to find hot spots on the roster to maneuver cap space to host other free agents. Barr’s large contract was a reasonable place to begin. It’s the same reason that Kyle Rudolph and Riley Reiff were jettisoned.

If Barr excels inside a Mike Zimmer-led defense that generally cherishes his occupancy, well, Spielman will probably re-sign him for 2022 and beyond. Should Barr exude a performance decline or want out altogether, now the Vikings can be free from the agreement after the 2021 season.

Share: