7 potential landing spots outside of Minnesota for Anthony Barr

San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers have a ton of cap space this year and can definitely afford the high salary that Barr will likely be commanding on the open market. San Francisco also have a pretty big need at outside linebacker.

They currently have a promising young player in Fred Warner in the middle of their linebacking corps and grizzled veteran Malcolm Smith on the weak side. The strong side of the 49ers’ linebacker group is a mess though.

Last season’s starter, Mark Nzeocha, is a free-agent and truthfully, he’s not very good. Barr would be a huge upgrade over Nzeocha and he could help turn San Francisco’s defense around in 2019.

Adding the four-time Pro Bowler would also give the 49ers more wiggle room at the top of the 2019 draft, where they would be able to look at bolstering their defensive line instead of adding another linebacker.

Just imagine a linebacking corps of Barr, Warner, and Smith playing behind a San Francisco defensive line that includes Solomon Thomas, DeForest Buckner, Quinnen Williams, and Arik Armstead next season. That’s an impressive front seven and one that’s a real possibility.

Oakland Raiders

The Raiders are in a similar boat as the 49ers this offseason. Oakland has a lot of cap space, a need at outside linebacker, and pick early in the 2019 NFL Draft.

Some guy named Marquel Lee currently tops the Raiders’ depth chart at strong-side linebacker. So clearly, an upgrade is needed for next season.

Barr would be a huge get for Oakland  and he would immediately improve a very porous defense from a year ago. Adding the 26-year-old linebacker would free up some options for the Raiders this offseason and allow them to address some other positional needs with their three first-round draft choices.

The only thing barring this from happening would be Barr himself not wanting to join this franchise that has been down in the dumps for quite awhile.