2014 NFL Draft: UCLA Linebacker Anthony Barr To Visit Pittsburgh Steelers
By Matt Shetler
The Pittsburgh Steelers addressed one outside linebacker spot when they selected Jarvis Jones in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft.
Could they look at the position again in the first round this year as well?
Dec 31, 2013; El Paso, TX, USA; UCLA Bruins linebacker Anthony Barr (11) walks off the field after winning the 2013 Sun Bowl at Sun Bowl Stadium. UCLA defeated Virginia Tech 42-12. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
Ross Jones of FOX Sports reports that UCLA LB Anthony Barr will meet with the Steelers sometime in the next two weeks. The prized prospect will also meet with the Cowboys, Vikings, Falcons and Eagles soon.
Barr has already met with the Jaguars, Titans and Falcons as he is the type of player that projects to be a game changer.
He hasn’t been playing linebacker long, but once he made the switch to the defensive side of the ball, Barr recorded 41.5 tackles for loss and 24.5 sacks at UCLA over the last two seasons.
With a major need at the cornerback position among other positions on the field, it seems unlikely that the Steelers would look at an outside linebacker again. But if Barr would somehow fall to the Steelers at No. 15, which is doubtful, he could be hard to pass on.
That’s especially true when you consider that Jason Worilds is currently not signed past this season.
The Steelers defense needs an infusion of young talent at almost every position on the field, so it makes sense that they are doing their homework on Barr, but at the end of the day I have a hard time envisioning that he would be on the board when the Steelers select.
That, coupled with other needs, makes Barr ending up with the Steelers an extreme longshot.