Trying to upgrade their offensive line, the Detroit Lions agreed to a deal with Geoff Schwartz on Wednesday. A source says he gets a one-year deal.
Schwartz tweeted that he was excited to be joining the Lions.
Excited to be the newest member of the @Lions! It's a great opportunity! Healthy and ready to roll! Can't wait to get started
— Geoff Schwartz (@geoffschwartz) March 30, 2016
Schwartz has played both guard spots and right tackle during his NFL career.
He was originally drafted in the seventh round out of Oregon by Carolina and played two seasons there before heading to Minnesota for one year, Kansas City for a season and then the New York Giants for the past two seasons.
Schwartz is expected to play one of two roles with Detroit, either as a reserve interior lineman who can push starters Laken Tomlinson and Larry Warford, or potentially as competition with Michael Ola, Lamar Holmes and Cornelius Lucas for the right tackle spot next to Warford.
Schwartz, who turns 30 in July, was a heralded free-agent signing by the Giants two offseasons ago, but injuries severely limited his impact. Toe and ankle problems limited him to just two games in 2014, and he missed the final five games of the 2015 season when ankle injuries flared up again. He played left guard, right guard and right tackle during his time with the Giants, who released him in February with two years left on his deal and $500,000 of his 2016 salary already guaranteed.
Schwartz's brother, Mitchell Schwartz, was the Cleveland Browns' right tackle in 2015 and also was eligible for free agency entering the 2016 offseason. He signed with Kansas City.
