MINNEAPOLIS -- We've known about the Minnesota Vikings' interest in former Cincinnati Bengals tackle Andre Smith for a couple of days, and now, the Vikings are prepared to host Smith on a visit.

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According to a league source, Smith will visit the Vikings on Sunday and Monday, as Minnesota continues to look for help along its offensive line. Smith, who has started 73 games at right tackle for the Bengals since 2009, could come in as the starter at the position, where Phil Loadholt is trying to return from a torn Achilles that came 11 months after a torn pectoral muscle ended his 2014 season.

Loadholt's restructured contract with the Vikings includes no guaranteed money for this season, and the Vikings certainly want to give themselves options on the right side of the line. T.J. Clemmings will also try to improve from a shaky rookie year and Mike Harris will be battling for playing time at either right guard or right tackle. If Smith signs with Minnesota, he would seemingly come in with the best chance to start, but the Vikings probably aren't promising jobs to anyone in March.

In any case, Smith's visit will be worth watching as the Vikings continue to attack their top offseason priority -- fixing their offensive line -- with vigor. The Vikings seem to be focusing on tackles now, and if they signed Smith, they'd have eight linemen with at least four years of experience in the league. Fans would hope they would be able to build an improved offensive line from that group.