The Minnesota Vikings entered this offseason with a renewed emphasis on the offensive line following second-year quarterback Teddy Bridgewater's rough season. Minnesota's shoddy blocking surrendered the eighth most sacks (45) in the NFL last year and 96 total QB hits. That's why it didn't surprise fans when the Vikings brought in Tony Sparano as its new offensive line coach while re-signing right tackle Phil Loadholt, picking up the fifth-year option on left tackle Matt Kalil and signing guard Alex Boone in free agency this offseason. Now, the team can add one more name to that list.
Offensive tackle Andre Smith took to Twitter to announce that he will sign a one-year deal with the Vikings.
Minneapolis here I come...Excited to join the great Vikings organization today on a 1-yr deal!!#SKOLVikings!! pic.twitter.com/yKTg2OA7TC
— Andre Smith (@BigSmitty71) March 17, 2016
Smith was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals with the No. 6 overall pick back in the 2009 NFL draft. However, after a standout college career at Alabama, Smith's tenure in the NFL has been a bit rocky. He came into the league out of shape amid questions about his work ethic and maturity, and a 30-day holdout in his rookie season didn't help matters. Since then, Smith has dealt with a litany of injuries.
Just days after ending his holdout, Smith fractured his left foot and wasn't able to take the field until December of that year. The next season, Smith broke his foot again after just seven games. The 6-foot-4, 325-pound right tackle has appeared in only 82 of a possible 112 games since being drafted. He has only appeared in a full 16-game schedule twice in his career.
Smith's breakout year came in 2011 when he cemented his hold on Cincinnati's starting right tackle position. He re-signed with the Bengals in 2013 to a three-year deal worth $18 million, but his play fell off in recent seasons.
Smith appeared in 14 games in 2015 but did not fare particularly well.
"Strong at guard and left tackle, the team was only let down by the inconsistencies of [Russell] Bodine and the poor performance of Andre Smith, who may have played his way out of town, given the Bengals' top two picks in the 2015 draft," Khaled Elsayed of Pro Football Focus wrote shortly after the regular season ended.
Follow Brandon Katz on Twitter at @Great_Katzby
