Anthony Barr’s trade value
One option the Vikings have for the future is to trade Anthony Barr if his play continues to stagnate. There would be plenty of willing teams looking for an experienced linebacker like Barr, although his big contract might put some organizations off the idea.
Minnesota head coach Mike Zimmer will be hoping things can turnaround and Barr has developed other areas of his game to make him of use. However, whether the Vikings can justify spending so much on the player going forward is now up for debate.
One would think a second-round pick would be enough to get a deal done after next season, providing Barr has a similar year to 2019. Money is likely going to be tight for Minnesota for several years and relieving the burden of Barr’s contract almost seems inevitable given the current climate.
It makes no sense to agree to a trade that involves Barr this year, but in 2021 it becomes a realistic option depending on whether he plays well or not in 2020. Along with Barr’s high salary, All-Pro linebacker Eric Kendricks also counts as a double-digit cap hit at $10.03 million next season for the Vikings. Minnesota simply cannot afford such a combined expense at the second level.
With Eric Wilson a restricted free agent this offseason, a replacement for him might be needed and it might not be easy to find one that’s cheap. This piles more pressure on the Vikings’ front office regarding a defense that is going to have a very different look to it by the time competitive action gets underway next season.