The Jets are adding Anthony Barr to their defense according to Adam Schefter. Former Vikings’ LB Anthony Barr intends to sign with the NY Jets, per league source. Jets get a pass rusher. — Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 12, 2019 Unsurprisingly, the pricetag is large. Talks heated up this afternoon. #Jets believed to have gone where #Vikings wouldn’t, into $14M-$15M APY range. https://t.co/CP7ZX8ERaJ — Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 12, 2019 At this point I think there are more questions than answers with this move. The biggest one is what Barr’s role will be. Nobody seems to be clear. My understanding is that Anthony Barr, an off-ball LB in Minnesota, will be used the way he was at UCLA, meaning more of an edge player. #Jets — Rich Cimini (@RichCimini) March 12, 2019 And: A closer look at how the Jets will use new LB Anthony Barr: https://t.co/XkWavHhLPR The Vikings made a play to keep him, but the Jets had more financial flexibility. Deal will likely come in north of $14M/year. pic.twitter.com/FT3ANoztqO — Manish Mehta (@MMehtaNYDN) March 12, 2019 The Jets have made it clear through back channels that they would like to sign Barr, according to sources. Gang Green envisions the four-time Pro Bowler as a WILL or Mike linebacker who would be a chess piece in new defensive coordinator Gregg Williams’ scheme. Barr would, in effect, have a role similar to the one that Jamie Collins, who is also a free agent after recently being cut by the Browns, had in the same scheme. Although Barr, who will turn 27 next week, would not be a true edge rusher, the feeling on One Jets Drive is that he can be a quality pass rusher in pass-rushing situations. The bottom line is that the 6-5, 255-pound Barr would be an off-the-ball backer with a versatile skill set to do just about everything. In the $14-15 million range, Barr would be one of the highest paid defensive players in the league. It might be difficult to justify that payday in a non-edge rushing role. On the other hand, he hasn’t been a full-time edge rusher since college so it isn’t clear how well he would convert. What is clear is the Jets are taking a big swing on a very talented player. The upside is certainly there.<doc-sep>Mike Maccagnan checked another one off his free agency wish list Monday. The Jets filled their need for a pass rusher by agreeing to a deal with free agent linebacker Anthony Barr. Having missed out on Kwon Alexander, who will sign with the 49ers, the Jets general manager landed Barr, the ex-Viking who will be entering his sixth NFL season. The 27-year-old made the Pro Bowl in each of the past four seasons and will fit in with defensive coordinator Gregg Williams’ 3-4 scheme It’s the latest move in a busy day for the Jets, who also nabbed receivers Jamison Crowder and Josh Bellamy. They are also reportedly in the mix for free agent center Matt Paradis and running back Le’Veon Bell.<doc-sep>The Jets are adding an outside linebacker, but it isn’t clear how much that will actually help their pass rush. Anthony Barr agreed to a deal with the Jets on Monday night, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The contract details are not yet known. The deal cannot be finalized until the NFL’s new league year officially opens on Wednesday. Barr undoubtedly helps the Jets fill a hole at the outside linebacker spot. Jordan Jenkins was productive last season, but the Jets primarily used a rotation of Jenkins and several other players – including Brandon Copeland, Frankie Luvu and others – at OLB last year once former starter Josh Martin was sidelined by concussions. Now, Barr will stabilize one of the two outside linebacker spots and Jenkins will likely play the other. But Barr isn’t a true pass rusher. The 26-year-old – he turns 27 next week – spent the past five seasons playing a the Vikings’ 4-3 scheme and primarily was an off-ball linebacker. As such, the No. 9 overall pick in the 2014 draft has tallied just 13.5 career sacks. He’ll likely be asked to do a bit more pass rushing with the Jets, especially given Gregg Williams’ emphasis on aggressive, pressure- and blitz-heavy defense. So this move is a bit of a risk, as the Jets are projecting that he’ll be able to successfully handle that new responsibility. That said, Barr did play as more of an edge-rushing linebacker during his college days at UCLA, so he’s not unfamiliar with the role. There’s a good chance that this will be the Jets’ only splashy move on the edge, too, given how quickly the market has thinned. Most of the top-tier edge rushers never even made it to free agency, getting franchise tagged instead. Then Dante Fowler agreed to re-sign with the Rams on Sunday night and then another key player, Trey Flowers, landed with the Lions on Monday. Maccagnan could still make some smaller moves to help shore up the pass rush – like perhaps bringing back defensive end Henry Anderson – but Barr is likely to be his main move, considering what’s still available. That could mean that the Jets focus even more heavily on finding a pass rusher with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, given how stacked this draft class is in that department. Kentucky’s Josh Allen, Michigan’s Rashan Gary or Mississippi State’s Montez Sweat could be potential options. Alabama defensive tackle Quinnen Williams could also provide some interior pass rush and help fill the Jets’ need at that position, too. Matt Stypulkoski may be reached at mstypulkoski@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @M_Stypulkoski. Find NJ.com Jets on Facebook.<doc-sep>
The New York Jets just made their first major splash of free agency, and in the process their defense should be getting a whole lot better. The Jets plan to sign linebacker Anthony Barr, a source confirmed to NorthJersey.com and USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey. The former Vikings linebacker made the Pro Bowl in each of the last four seasons and is only 26 years old. ESPN first reported the agreement. A contract can't be inked until Wednesday. Details of the contract were not yet available. It's a compelling signing and a bold move for the Jets, who are hoping that they finally landed a capable edge rusher. Barr was drafted ninth overall in 2014 and developed into one of the best linebackers in the league with the Minnesota Vikings. He didn't really stand out as a pass rusher in Minnesota — he had only 13.5 sacks in five seasons, including only three last year. But Barr wasn't really used as an edge rusher with the Vikings, where he was more of an off-ball linebacker. That will change with the Jets, who badly need help getting to the quarterback — the Jets were ranked 23rd in the NFL in sack percentage last season. New defensive coordinator Gregg Williams will almost certainly line Barr up on othe edge and let him get after the quarterback. There's no guarantee how well it will work, because Barr doesn't have extensive experience as an edge rusher in the NFL. But it's easy to see why Jets general manager Mike Maccagnan is betting it will. FREE AGENCY TRACKER:Analysis on the latest moves FOLES ON THE MOVE:Jaguars to sign quarterback, dump Blake Bortles 4th & MONDAY:Our NFL newsletter always brings the blitz Barr has all the tools to be an elite pass rusher. The 26-year-old is 6-foot-5, 255 pounds and has good quickness and strength. And in college, at UCLA, he was one of the best college pass rushers in the country. Barr had 23.5 sacks in his final two seasons at UCLA (13.5 as a junior, 10 as a senior). Even in a non pass-rushing role, Barr had a big impact with the Vikings. Now we're going to find out if he can be the player the Jets need. Williams has a reputation for getting the most out of his players. It's going to to be fascinating to see how the Jets bring along Barr in this new role. Follow NorthJersey.com's Andy Vasquez on Twitter @andy_vasquez. If you love talking football, we have the perfect spot for you. Join our new Facebook Group, The Ruling Off the Field, to engage in friendly debate and conversation with fellow football fans and our NFL insiders.