NEW YORK – The Minnesota Vikings traded down to the number 9 picking Thursday night’s NFL draft to take Anthony Barr, a UCLA linebacker.
Barr is 22-years-old and 6′ 4″ tall, weighing in at 247 lbs. NFL.com projected him as a top-10 pick in this year’s draft, describing him as “a highly disruptive, athletic specimen with the pass-rush potential to effortlessly emerge as a double-digit sack producer. Is far from a finished product and his best football is still ahead of him, yet he plays the game with more of an offensive temperament and could require some patience. Is the type of rare athlete that could even contribute as an offensive playmaker once he learns to grasp defensive concepts and the game slows down for him.”
“I couldn’t be more excited to be a Minnesota Viking,” Barr said after the draft. “I want to thank the Minnesota Vikings, Rick Spielman and the Wilfs for believing in me.”
Vikings coach Zimmer said of Bridgewater “He’s a guy who is going to be here all the time. He is going to study, he is going to work. Vikings fans are going to be proud.”
Rick Spielman, General Manager, said “It was a great day for the Vikings. I think we really upgraded ourselves. I am really looking forward to tomorrow. We feel very strongly about Teddy Bridgewater. Of all of the QBs he is the best against the blitz.”
Vikings QB Teddy Bridgewater holding up the purple. #VikingsDraft pic.twitter.com/uNvvwI2L6q
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) May 9, 2014
