4 free agent linebackers the NY Jets should still consider signing

3. The NY Jets could sign Anthony Barr

The Jets and Anthony Barr obviously already have a bit of history with one another. Most will remember the infamous situation from 2019 when Barr spurned the Jets in free agency in favor of returning to the Minnesota Vikings.

While many fans may not be willing to overlook this football faux pas, the Jets probably would. After all, Mike Maccagnan isn't calling the shots anymore. Adam Gase isn't the head coach. This is an entirely new Jets regime.

Barr finds himself on the free-agent market once again, albeit this time with significantly less fanfare. The four-time Pro Bowler has battled injuries over the last two seasons, and those health issues eventually led to the Vikings officially moving on this offseason.

Still, he only turned 30-years-old two months ago and has been an effective player when healthy. Barr's 62.9 PFF grade ranked 28th among qualified linebackers last season including a 72.5 pass-rush grade that placed top-five.

That's always been Barr's calling card too: his versatility. Barr isn't exactly your typical Robert Saleh linebacker. He's more of a tweener linebacker/edge rusher who can serve a vital role as a chess piece in most NFL defenses, even in 2022.

The big knock on him is injuries. He played just two games in 2020 after suffering a torn pectoral muscle and was limited to 11 games in 2021.

Still, if the Jets are looking for a proven commodity who's been highly regarded as an on and off-field leader throughout his career, Anthony Barr makes sense. You just have to ignore the emotional baggage that would come with him.