5 best Vikings first-round picks of the Rick Spielman era

Anthony Barr (2014)

In 2014, Spielman chose to draft UCLA’s RB/WR/LB Anthony Barr ninth overall. He was extremely versatile in college, playing all three of those positions.

When he moved full-time to linebacker during his junior year, his draft stock really took off. He tallied 23.5 sacks during his final two years at UCLA which prompted him being selected ninth overall by the Vikings.

His athleticism and versatility have been on full display since the moment Spielman drafted him. The sacks haven’t been there like they were in college, but he’s added another element to his already impressive game. He’s tremendous in pass coverage and a threat in the run game.

All told, Barr choosing to come back to Minnesota after reports of him signing with the New York Jets speak to the relationship he and the Vikings have. With how terrific of a defensive mind that Zimmer is, he really helped mold Barr into the force he is today.