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Minnesota Vikings: 5 offseason needs in 2019

By Russell S. Baxter

Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer is seen during the first half of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions in Detroit, Michigan USA, on Sunday, December 23, 2018. (Photo by Jorge Lemus/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer is seen during the first half of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions in Detroit, Michigan USA, on Sunday, December 23, 2018. (Photo by Jorge Lemus/NurPhoto via Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – SEPTEMBER 27: Minnesota Vikings linebacker Anthony Barr (55) during an NFL regular season football game against the Los Angeles Rams on September 27, 2018, at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Ric Tapia/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – SEPTEMBER 27: Minnesota Vikings linebacker Anthony Barr (55) during an NFL regular season football game against the Los Angeles Rams on September 27, 2018, at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Ric Tapia/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

3. Re-sign OLB Anthony Barr

While it certainly didn’t play up to its 2017 standards this past season, the Vikings still sport one of the better defensive units in the league. Most of this group has been assembled via Rick Spielman, who joined the organization more than a decade ago and earned the title of general manager in 2012. Since that date, the team have drafted starters such as safety Harrison Smith, cornerbacks Xavier Rhodes and Trae Waynes and outside linebacker Anthony Barr in the first round alone.

The latter can become an unrestricted free agent come March 13 unless the team opts to slap him with the franchise (or transition) tag. In any case, retaining the service of the five-year pro would certainly be in the team’s best interest. The ninth-overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft from UCLA has played and started in 71 regular-season contests and has been named to four consecutive Pro Bowls. Yes, he missed three games this past season and finished with only 55 tackles, three sacks and two passes defensed.

But the 26 year old pro is a rangy performer who totaled at least 70 tackles in three of his first four NFL campaigns (68 stops in 2015). The playmaker has picked off just one pass and has recovered only four fumbles in five years. But Barr has 22 passes defensed and forced seven fumbles during his brief career.

At the moment, it appears that the Vikings are content with letting Barr test his worth. But a lot can happen between now and the afternoon of March 13.

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