Depending on who drafts him, Anthony Barr figures to play multiple roles.
So it makes sense that a defense that won’t commit to any one style is looking closely at the UCLA linebacker.
According to D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Barr will visit the Falcons next Tuesday.
Barr’s most natural fit is as a 3-4 outside linebacker, and he’s shown enough in his two-year conversion from running back (23.5 sacks) to suggest he’ll be good at it as a pro. But on a recent trip to Dallas, he said they viewed him as a 4-3 defensive end.
Either way, the moves the Falcons have made this offseason suggest a lean toward more 3-4 looks under defensive coordinator Mike Nolan, with the early additions of Paul Soliai and Tyson Jackson the strongest hints. But they insist they aren’t necessarily a 3-4 defense, for whatever reason.
Barr’s ability to rush the passer will suit him wherever he lands, and the Falcons clearly need someone who can do that from any angle.