Although the Detroit Lions have been linked to a former Patriot hitting free agency, they are now rumored to be interested in linebacker Anthony Barr.
The Detroit Lions figure to be very active when the free agent market opens this week. And the name many have linked to the Motor City has been former New England Patriots’ defensive end Trey Flowers. That’s mainly due to the fact that current Lions’ head coach Matt Patricia used to be the defensive coordinator in New England.
But a new name has emerged as a possible target for the Lions in free agency. And it’s one that Detroit fans are very familiar with, as it’s a player from an NFC North foe. According to The Athletic’s Connor Hughes, the Lions are the favorite to land former Minnesota Vikings’ linebacker Anthony Barr.
A former first-round selection (ninth overall) out of UCLA in 2014, Barr has spent the last five seasons in Minnesota. Yet the four-time Pro Bowler has never posted more than 75 tackles in a single year.
In college, Barr racked up a whopping 23.5 sacks in his final two years with the Bruins. But with the Vikings, he’s never posted more than a 4.0 sack season as a pro.
In Detroit, Barr would likely play more of a pass rusher role with the future of defensive end Ezekiel Ansah in doubt as he prepares to enter free agency himself. If signed, the 26-year old former Viking would join a talented linebacker corps that already features former first-rounder Jarrad Davis and last season’s biggest free agent signing, Devon Kennard. The latter registered 7.0 sacks in his first year in the Motor City.
NFL.com recently listed Anthony Barr as the sixth best free agent scheduled to be available starting this week. You can be assured that means his services will be costly. But if the Detroit Lions believe his presence will help return them to playoff contention, it might be worth price.