Anthony Barr has agreed to a pay cut in exchange for a shorter contract. Now, the linebacker will make a fully guaranteed $9.4MM in 2021 — a, plus $500K in per-game roster bonuses and a $100K workout bonus (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero). 
Originally, Barr was set to make $12.9M this year with a deal running through 2023. Now, he’ll be eligible for free agency in March of 2022. In turn, the Vikings will clear $2.9MM in cap space.
Barr, who turns 29 this week, made the Pro Bowl every year between 2015 and 2018. However, a torn pec limited him to just two games last year and many believed that the Vikings would release him this offseason to gain some much-need cap space. Barr hasn’t been stellar on his five-year, $67.5MM contract, but he has an opportunity to cash in all over again. When healthy and at his best, the former No. 9 overall pick is among the best linebackers in the league.
Roughly two years ago today, Barr flip-flopped on the Jets to stay in Minnesota. The Jets then parlayed that money into an ill-fated deal with Le’Veon Bell.
This was a result of the Vikings’ BARR exam !!
I’m very confused by the logic in this for Barr. So he gave up ~3 million for the right to also give up 2 years and roughly 27 million on the back end of the contract?
Does he think that there is a great chance of beating that pay rate at 30 years old and coming off several injuries and disappointing performance the last couple years? He better hope he has the year of his life this season or I don’t see how this could possibly benefit him at all (unless he just wants out of Minnesota at any cost). What if he suffers a serious injury an can’t play again? Am I missing something here?
It’s not always about the money. I’ve always considered the Vikings to be a pretty well run organization but lately we have been seeing their players looking to move on. Maybe the players question the owners commitment to winning (team morale seemed to hit bottom when Diggs was dealt) or are tired of the constant requests by management for pay reductions.
He was likely facing being cut if he didn’t agree to this. The team would have eaten $7.8 million in dead cap costs, but still saved over $7.25 million. This way, they save less money but they don’t have to replace him this year.
It’s very similar to what the Vikes did with Everson Griffen two years ago.
The part that you are missing is that he’ll be able to cash in next year when the Salary Cap goes back up. Like so many players taking one-year deals this year to be back on the market next year. It’s a true win-win for both parties. Getting hurt is always a risk all the players take.