After signing a huge deal this offseason with extra incentives for sacks, there was some question whether Anthony Barr would move from linebacker to defensive end, or an edge rusher.
Per Vikings coach Mike Zimmer, the four-time Pro Bowler will remain a linebacker.
“He’ll be a linebacker,” Zimmer said via the Star Tribune. “We’re doing a few different things defensively so you’ll get a chance to see how it looks, but we’re going to make a few changes with some of the things schematically just from our offseason study.”
With the Vikings having Everson Griffen and Danielle Hunter at defensive end, there isn’t an exact void for Barr to fill at that spot. Hunter is one of the best defensive ends in the NFL, while Griffen is a season removed from piling up 13 sacks.
Barr is better when he can get in open space to rush the quarterback. Regardless if he’s a linebacker or not, we’ll see if he gets more opportunities at that in 2019.
