Andre Smith: Vikings, Cardinals remain in the running
By Dan Zinski
Andre Smith visited the Minnesota Vikings Sunday and Monday but has reportedly left without a deal and will now visit Arizona.
The Vikings announced on Twitter that offensive tackle Andre Smith has concluded his free agent visit.
According to Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer-Press, Smith will now head to Arizona. Smith told Tomasson that it’s “between the Vikings and Arizona.” Minnesota reportedly went all-out in trying to get Smith signed today.
#Vikings tried their best today Andre Smith flight pushed back 2 hours But he will be off ground & gone from Minnesota in about a half hour
— Chris Tomasson (@christomasson) March 14, 2016
Smith said his visit with Minnesota went well but nevertheless he will get out of town without a deal in place.
In past years, we’ve learned that it’s never a good thing when a free agent gets out of town.
What does it say about Minnesota’s assessment of their own offensive tackle situation that they pushed this hard to sign Andre Smith, a guy who is not exactly a premiere free agent at this point in his career?
Minnesota currently has T.J. Clemmings and Phil Loadholt as their top two candidates to start at right tackle. The Vikings also recently re-signed Carter Bykowski who spent all of 2015 on IR after being plucked from the 49ers practice squad.
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All the Vikings can do now is wait and hope that Arizona comes up short in their offer to Smith. The Vikes did everything they could to impress the free agent, including reportedly taking him on a tour of the new stadium, but it will all have been for naught if Arizona is able to come up with more money.