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3 Vikings free agents that could follow Mike Zimmer if he’s fired

By Sayre Bedinger

NFL Free Agents; Minnesota Vikings outside linebacker Anthony Barr (55) directs the defense against the Los Angeles Rams during the third quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
NFL Free Agents; Minnesota Vikings outside linebacker Anthony Barr (55) directs the defense against the Los Angeles Rams during the third quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports /
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Minnesota Vikings
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – DECEMBER 26: Anthony Barr #55 of the Minnesota Vikings celebrates after intercepting a pass by Matthew Stafford #9 of the Los Angeles Rams (not in photo) in the third quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium on December 26, 2021 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images) /

The Minnesota Vikings could be getting ready to move on from Mike Zimmer in 2022. If they do, which free agents could follow him elsewhere?

Could the Minnesota Vikings be moving on from Mike Zimmer in the coming days? That remains to be seen, but Zimmer has been the Vikings’ head coach since 2014. He’s been there through some of the franchise’s best seasons but in the NFL, the ultimate goal is exactly that.

The Vikings haven’t been able to win it all since Zimmer became their head coach after a long tenure as defensive coordinator of the Cincinnati Bengals. If the Vikings decide to move on from Zimmer after this season, it would certainly be the end of an era, one Zimmer has stated he is proud of.

Under Zimmer’s watch, the Vikings have two NFC North division titles, no small accomplishment given the presence of Aaron Rodgers during this time, and they also have one NFC Championship game appearance. If he’s let go, Zimmer would undoubtedly draw interest from other teams as a defensive coordinator and steady presence on that side of the ball, and he might be able to bring some impending Vikings free agents with him.

Which Vikings free agents could follow Mike Zimmer if he is let go in 2022?

1. Anthony Barr, linebacker

The Minnesota Vikings used a first-round pick on Anthony Barr in Mike Zimmer’s first year on the job as head coach in 2014.

Since that time, Barr has become one of the more underrated linebackers in the NFL but he’s only played in 12 games the last two seasons, so the likelihood is this being his final season in Minnesota with his age 30 campaign upcoming.

Barr’s potential as a pass rusher in the NFL has yet to be unlocked. When he came out in the 2014 NFL Draft he wasn’t identical, by any means, but he could do some similar things to what Micah Parsons has been doing this season for the Cowboys. If Barr had been used in that way from the day he was drafted, who knows how different things could have been?

Still, Barr has proven loyalty to the Vikings even after apparently agreeing to a big-money deal with the Jets in free agency once upon a time.

If Barr hits free agency and Zimmer is no longer with the Vikings, it’s not hard to connect these two beyond this season.

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