Seahawks: 3 Vikings that could follow Karl Scott to Seattle

Anthony Barr

The Seahawks don’t really need another linebacker who can stop the run (unless, of course, Bobby Wagner is released) but Seattle does need a linebacker who is good in coverage and can pass rush. Seattle was hurt defensively last year, especially early in the season, with a poor design scheme for stopping crossing patterns and then having linebackers in Wagner and Brooks whose considerable strengths don’t really include covering receivers.

In 2022, though, Seattle should have a more aggressive defensive scheme under new defensive coordinator Clint Hurtt and this is where Barr could fit in perfectly. Barr isn’t going to change most games by himself but he is capable of being a rotation of players who do. In 2021, Barr had 6 quarterback hits in 11 games.

Jordyn Brooks and Bobby Wagner each had 3 quarterback hits this past season but each played at least 16 games. Darrell Taylor was sometimes listed as a linebacker and he had 13 quarterback hits but Taylor was really a defensive end on passing downs. Barr had 2.5 sacks in 2021 and Wagner and Brooks combined for 2.

Barr, however, had 3 interceptions (Wagner and Brooks combined had 1) and 5 passes defended, Even at 6’5″ and 260 pounds he is a better coverage linebacker than Wagner or Brooks. If Seattle does a lot more 3-4 schemes than 4-3, this puts more linebackers on the field and Barr would add the element of pressuring the quarterback so his signing would be a big positive.