The Philadelphia Eagles have a perfect record so far this season, but the team is already battling with a number of defensive ailments. Bleacher Report has compiled a rundown of the one move that each NFL team should make right now and is recommending that the Eagles sign linebacker Anthony Barr, who has been named to the Pro Bowl four times.
Barr is most known for his eight seasons spent with the Vikings, and in 2019, he inked a big contract with the team that paid him $67.5 million over the course of five years. Later on, in 2021, Minnesota and Barr reached an agreement to modify their contract, which resulted in the defender’s pay being reduced to $8.6 million.
The Philadelphia Eagles only have three off-ball linebackers on their roster due to the fact that Haason Reddick and Nolan Smith line up more as edge defenders. According to the information provided by Bleacher Report on September 11, 2023, “so, they could use some depth there at least.”
“…Anthony Barr would provide Philadelphia with additional linebacking expertise in addition to serving as an insurance policy. The nine-year veteran, who had 58 total tackles in 14 games with the Cowboys last season, may not be the four-time Pro Bowler he used to be, but he did have that many tackles for the Cowboys.
The front management of the Eagles needs to find a solution to the obvious question of whether or not Barr can still contribute to the squad. Barr spent his first eight years as a professional football player in Minnesota. In 2022, he joined Dallas and played in 14 games for the Cowboys, including starting 10 of those contests.
Pro Football Focus’ evaluation of the experienced player’s performance in 2022 was a disappointing 59.7 out of 100 points. It’s possible that Barr’s time as a Pro Bowler is behind him, but the Eagles could still benefit from having the linebacker on their roster as they deal with Nakobe Dean’s injury.
During the previous season, the defensive player was under contract with the Cowboys for a one-year deal worth $2 million. Given his previous work, Philadelphia has a good chance of signing Barr to a deal that won’t break the bank.
After signing Rashaan Evans, a former standout for Alabama, Philadelphia believed they had added some reinforcements to their team. The veteran has started 67 games throughout his career in the NFL, including all 17 games that the Falcons have played in 2022. According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, the Eagles obliged Evans’ request and cut ties with the linebacker a few short days after adding him to the team.
On September 15, Schefter tweeted out the following statement: “Rashaan Evans’ practice squad contract was terminated today by the Eagles at his request,” according to a source. Evans is presently weighing his options, which include potential offers from a number of other teams.
Barr, who has been mentioned in the past in connection with a possible contract with the Saints, had a quite eventful offseason overall. Barr was anticipated to sign with the New Orleans Saints in the month of August, but he finally decided to speak with more clubs rather than sign.
“LB According to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo and a source cited by NFL.com on August 8, Anthony Barr had a productive free-agent visit with the Saints, but the two sides were unable to reach an agreement on a contract. According to Garafolo, “while New Orleans is still a possibility, Barr is drawing interest from a number of other teams and may schedule additional visits in the near future.”
Barr was subsequently connected to a visit with the Giants, but New York basically declined the opportunity to meet with him by saying “Thanks, but no thanks.” The Giants decided not to take Barr because they wanted to focus on younger linebackers instead.
During the offseason, rumors circulated that the New Orleans Saints and the New York Giants might be interested in Anthony Barr joining with either team. However, Barr was unable to reach an agreement with the Saints, which forced him to investigate his other available choices.
Initially, the Giants showed interest in Barr as well, but in the end, they decided to focus their attention on younger linebackers instead. Given the dearth of linebacking depth that the Eagles currently have on their roster, this further underscores the opportunity for the Eagles to explore using Barr’s services.
To summarize, the Philadelphia Eagles would be wise to give serious consideration to acquiring the services of Anthony Barr in order to strengthen their linebacker group. Barr’s experience, skills, and history of success make him a vital asset to the squad, despite the fact that he may not be in the form that would have earned him a spot in the Pro Bowl. Because the Eagles’ defensive unit has already been hit by a number of injuries, acquiring Barr would provide them the much-needed depth and insurance they require. The Eagles have an opportunity to obtain the services of the veteran linebacker for a price that is within their financial reach if they take advantage of Barr’s modest contract history.
