Mitchell Schwartz the Cleveland Browns right tackle is reportedly drawing interest from several teams including the Minnesota Vikings.
The Minnesota Vikings are among several teams showing interest in Cleveland Browns free agent right tackle Mitchell Schwartz, reports Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Atlanta Falcons and New York Giants are also said to be interested in Schwartz.
The 26-year-old Schwartz is listed by Pro Football Focus as the third-best available free agent tackle. Here’s what they said about Schwartz:
"On a per-snap basis, Schwartz’s 95.3 pass-blocking efficiency ranked 27th out of 75 qualifying tackles. He has earned positive pass-blocking grades each of his four years in the league, and three of four years as a run blocker. Schwartz has also not missed a single one of the Browns’ 4,427 offensive snaps since he was drafted."
The 6-5, 320-pound Schwartz was drafted by Cleveland in the second round in 2012 out of Cal. His brother is former Vikings right guard Geoff Schwartz.
If the Vikings are interested in Mitchell, let’s hope he doesn’t get counsel from his brother Geoff who left the Vikings on less-than-friendly terms a few years back.
The Vikings’ apparent interest in Schwartz is intriguing given that they have already reportedly re-signed right tackle Phil Loadholt to a one-year deal worth $2 million.
Mitchell Schwartz is himself a right tackle and nowhere have I seen it suggested that he could switch over to the left side. He did play left tackle in college.
Next: Vikings re-sign Thielen, Bykowski
The Vikings as you know have until Wednesday to do something with left tackle Matt Kalil or his $11.1 million salary for 2016 becomes fully guaranteed. The Vikes could cut Kalil or try to work out a new deal with him ahead of the deadline.
Minnesota also reportedly has offered a two-year contract to right guard Mike Harris. The Vikings began re-working their offensive line by firing O-line coach Jeff Davidson and replacing him with Tony Sparano.