By JON KRAWCZYNSKI

AP Sports Writer

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – The Minnesota Vikings signed All-Pro guard Steve Hutchinson to an offer sheet Sunday, the latest move in their aggressive approach to free agency.

The Seattle Seahawks placed the transition tag on Hutchinson in the offseason, giving them a week to match the deal or lose him to the Vikings without compensation. Terms of the Vikings’ offer weren’t disclosed.

With $31 million in salary cap room, the Vikings have been one of the fastest teams out of the gate in free agency. They signed running back Chester Taylor, kicker Ryan Longwell and linebacker Ben Leber on Saturday, the first full day the market opened. They also re-signed receiver Koren Robinson, who made the Pro Bowl as a kick returner.

The Vikings decided on signing Taylor, Jamal Lewis’ backup in Baltimore to a four-year, $14.1 million contract that includes $5.6 million in guarantees, a relatively modest deal for a No. 1 running back. They resisted going after higher-priced backs like Lewis and Edgerrin James, perhaps so they could make a serious run at Hutchinson to shore up their offensive line.

Hutchinson arrived in the Twin Cities for a visit Saturday night and signed the offer sheet Sunday afternoon. Getting him would be a big boost for the Vikings, whose offensive line was injury-riddled and inconsistent last season.

This season, Hutchinson and Walter Jones led a Seahawks rushing attack that paved the way for NFL rushing champion Shaun Alexander, who had a team-record 1,880 yards and a league-record 28 touchdowns.

The Seahawks refused to comment Sunday, preferring to let their seven-day window to match the offer play out. Seattle entered the weekend about $17 million below the league’s $102 million salary cap for 2006. So, depending on the Vikings’ offer, they could have the ability to make a competitive offer to keep Hutchinson.

The NFC champions have already given quarterback Matt Hasselbeck $16 million in guaranteed money and Alexander $15.1 million guaranteed to keep two of their biggest offensive stars in Seattle.

Seahawks president Tim Ruskell elected to place the transition tag on Hutchinson, a three-time Pro Bowler and former Michigan standout, rather than making him the franchise player, a move that could be costly.

Had the Seahawks made Hutchinson their franchise player, the Vikings would have had to give up two first-round picks as compensation should Seattle not match the offer.

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AP Sports Writer Gregg Bell contributed to this report.

AP-ES-03-12-06 1742EST