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Free agent offensive tackle / guard Geoff Schwartz reports via Twitter that he has joined the Kansas City Chiefs.
Excited to officially be a new member of the @kcchiefs!
— Geoff Schwartz (@GeoffSchwartz76) March 15, 2013
#Chiefs signed G/T Geoff Schwartz.
— KCChiefsDraft.com (@ChiefsDraft) March 15, 2013
It was reported earlier this morning that the Chiefs were expected to sign him so this doesn't come as a surprise. He's a 2008 seventh round pick by the Panthers. He was a 16-game starter for the Panthers in 2010, but missed all of the 2011 season with a hip injury. He played as a reserve guard for the Vikings last season. As with many free agents signed after the first wave of free agency, it's a roll of the dice that you hope works out.
What position will he play? He has experience at right guard and right tackle. (See the Chiefs referred to him as a G/T.) The Chiefs have could use depth along guard -- Jon Asamoah and Jeff Allen would, in my best guess, be slated as the starters now -- and as you know after the Eric Winston release they have a need at right tackle. Then again, Donald Stephenson could factor in there. The Chiefs could send Schwartz and Stephenson out there to compete. Lots of options here but we won't have a solid direction of the offensive line group until the Chiefs use that top pick on April 25.
Does this affect the draft? Maybe you'd think Schwartz and Stephenson could compete at right tackle, filling that need for next season. But look at it this way: are the Chiefs going to base the No. 1 pick in the draft on a free agent offensive tackle signed to a one-year deal? That doesn't seem right. My answer would be that it does not affect the top pick.
Make sure you read this piece from the Daily Norseman on Schwartz. It's pretty encouraging.
More reading:
New Chief Mike DeVito explains the new defense
Chiefs send Reid, Dorsey and entire defensive staff to Oregon
The Sean Smith scouting report