Giants' Roster Breakdown: Geoff Schwartz, OG

In a very busy offseason, one of the biggest moves the New York Giants made was signing free-agent offensive lineman Geoff Schwartz. Let's look at Schwartz as we continue our player-by-player profiles of the 90-man roster the Giants will bring to training camp on July 21.

2013 Season In Review

Playing for the Kansas City Chiefs, Schwartz had his best professional season. He was the ninth-ranked guard in the league, according to Pro Football Focus. Schwartz compiled a +15.6 PFF regular-season rating at guard for the Chiefs. He also played one game at right tackle and was +3.3. Including one playoff game, Schwartz ended the season with a +18.6 overall score. The 6-foot-6, 340-pound Schwartz was +10.5 run-blocking, +5.9 pass-blocking and allowed only two sacks in 632 snaps.

2014 Season In Outlook

The Giants' No. 1 priority in fixing their "broken" offense was to revamp an offensive line that had decayed due to age, injury and inattention. The 27-year-old Schwartz was the best guard on the free-agent market, and the Giants wasted no time bringing him to New Jersey. Schwartz, who has led a nomadic NFL existence with the Giants being his fourth franchise in six season, signed a four-year, $16.8 million contract with $4.7 million guaranteed.

Schwartz has started only 26 of 61 games in a career that has seen him enter the league as an undrafted free agent in 2009 with the Carolina Panthers, move to the Minnesota Vikings in 2012 and then to the Chiefs last season. It is, quite honestly, a bit of a mystery why Schwartz has not been able to find consistent work as a starter. He had a +19.3 grade for Carolina in 2010, but was let go after missing 2011 to injury. He played only 160 snaps for Minnesota in 2012 and started only seven games for the Chiefs last season.

As a cornerstone of the Giants' rebuilt offensive line, both the Giants and Schwartz hope he has finally found an NFL home. The Giants are counting on Schwartz to be a road-grading run-blocker who can help revitalize their running attack, and a quality pass-blocker who will help enable Eli Manning to find a comfort level in the pocket that plainly was not there in 2013.

Congratulations are in order

Congratulations to Schwartz and his wife, Meredith Snipes, on the birth of their first child on Friday night.

The absolute best bday! Healthy baby and momma! So proud of @MeridithSnipes! Unbelievable feeling. pic.twitter.com/QToz6JuB0Z

— Geoff Schwartz (@geoffschwartz) July 12, 2014