The Minnesota Vikings are adding to their depth along the offensive line, agreeing to a one-year deal with former Carolina Panthers starter Geoff Schwartz.
Schwartz visited Minnesota facilities on Monday and left for a visit to the San Francisco 49ers on Tuesday. A seventh-round draft pick in 2008, Schwartz had also visited the Detroit Lions. But he will join the Vikings and will likely have a chance to compete for a starting spot after the team cut longtime starting guards Steve Hutchinson and Anthony Herrera three days before free agency began.
"Excited to be a Minnesota #Viking!!!," Schwartz wrote on his Twitter page (@GeoffSchwartz74) early Wednesday evening.
Schwartz, 25, missed all of last season with a hip injury and wasn't offered a free-agent tender by Carolina, but he started 16 games in 2010 for the Panthers when current Minnesota offensive line coach Jeff Davidson was with Carolina. Schwartz has started 19 of his 32 career games.
The 6-foot-6, 331-pounder has experience playing guard and tackle and will compete with Brandon Fusco and Joe Berger for a starting spot on the offensive line.
If the Vikings end up drafting Southern Cal left tackle Matt Kalil with the No. 3 overall selection in April's draft as is rumored, current left tackle Charlie Johnson could be moved to left guard with Schwartz, Berger and Fusco battling for the right guard spot. All three players could also add versatility as backups with Fusco and Berger having played guard and center and Schwartz's ability to swing between guard and tackle.
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