Vikings Sign First-Round Pick OLB Anthony Barr

Ben Goessling of ESPN.com, citing a league source, reports that the Vikings have reached an agreement with first-round pick OLB Anthony Barr.

• The Vikings also signed seventh-round DT Shamar Stephen to a four-year contract.

It’s somewhat surprising that the first draft pick the Vikings have signed happens to be their first-round selection. They have another nine players to get under contract.

Barr was an interesting selection for Minnesota as there was speculation that they could be targeting QB Johnny Manziel in round one. However, reports later came out that the Vikings were concerned that the Titans were going to take Barr if he were to be available to them, which is why they only traded back to No. 9 overall with the Browns.

Minnesota is expected to use Barr in a similar role to the one Von Miller plays for the Broncos.

He was a running back in during his first two years at UCLA, but made a good decision when he converted to outside linebacker. Barr is clearly a physical specimen, but there is plenty for him to work on at the next level.