Free agency is rapidly approaching and beginning on Monday, March 11, teams across the league can begin entering into discussions with potential targets. On March 13 at 4:00 p.m. ET, they can begin signing them.
In looked ahead at potential matches, ESPN named linebacker Anthony Barr as a “must-sign” for the New York Giants.
New York Giants: LB Anthony Barr
2018 team: Vikings | Age: 27Barr’s best days might already be gone, but he’s best-suited to land on a team that utilizes him correctly. He’s a dropback linebacker who excels at rushing the passer. If he can replicate his sophomore campaign of 2015, in which he finished with elite grades in coverage while also bringing down a career-high 27 QB pressures, he becomes the perfect addition to a Giants linebacking corps that lacks playmakers.
Barr is a versatile linebacker who is capable of playing every down defensively, but he’s not the type of elite pass rusher the Giants need. He has just 13.5 sacks over his five-year NFL career and that has never really been his strong point.
However, Barr is a capable linebacker in coverage despite being slightly on the slower side. That has been an Achilles heel of the Giants for several years running, so not only would he represent a four-down option, but he’d also represent an improvement against tight ends over the middle of the field.
There aren’t many versatile linebackers like Barr available, but for the potential price tag, the Giants may be better suited looking for a pass rush specialist or two.
