Report: Vikings almost traded Anthony Barr in 2018

Scheduled to be a free-agent this offseason, the linebacker reportedly wanted the Minnesota Vikings to send him to a team on the west coast last year.

During the 2018 offseason, the Minnesota Vikings made a number of big moves to help set their team up for success in the future.

Some of these moves included handing out contract extensions to some of their top young players like Danielle Hunter, Eric Kendricks, and Stefon Diggs. However, linebacker Anthony Barr was not among those who was lucky enough to receive an extension from the Vikings last year.

Instead, Minnesota decided to let Barr play out the final season of his contract and he will now become a free-agent when the new league year begins in March. Judging by how much money the linebacker is expected to command on the open market this offseason, it appears that his time in Minnesota is likely over.

Apparently, Barr’s tenure with the Vikings almost came to an end in 2018.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Thursday, Minnesota looked into trading the young linebacker last offseason. Barr reportedly wanted to play for a team on the west coast, but the Vikings were unable to find a deal that was satisfying enough for them to pull the trigger.

Shefter also mentioned that he would be surprised if the linebacker re-signed with Minnesota this year.

Given that the two sides were unable to work out an extension last offseason, it’s not too surprising to find out that the Vikings attempted to send Barr elsewhere. What is surprising is that Minnesota actually didn’t end up with a trade partner for the linebacker last year.

If the Vikings did receive offers for Barr last offseason, their compensation in return obviously did not match up with what they felt he was worth.

Some have tried to remain optimistic about the linebacker returning to Minnesota for the 2019 season. But it sounds like Barr’s exit from the Vikings is pretty much inevitable at this point.