The New England Patriots brass is never done building the team for the upcoming season. And even though the NFL draft is right around the corner, the team has not stopped bringing in veterans to potentially add depth and talent.
One of those veterans, according to ESPN’s Adam Caplan, was former Minnesota Vikings offensive lineman Brandon Fusco, who was in town on Wednesday:
Former #Vikings C/G Brandon Fusco is visiting the #Patriots today.
After having spent the first six seasons of his NFL career with the Vikings, the 28-year old was released by the team in February. Overall, the former sixth round draft pick out of Slippery Rock started 66 of the 69 games he appeared in for Minnesota, and has seen playing time at both left and most recently right guard.
Free agency has been quiet for Fusco so far, whose release was the result of a cost-intensive contract, a run of injuries and inconsistent play. Still, New England apparently thinks that he is worth taking a look at – and be it just a) as an insurance option in case the Patriots either miss out on a guard prospect in the draft or suffer an injury at the position or b) to update his file.
No matter the reasoning behind the visit, Fusco would add experience, a veteran presence and versatility to a very young Patriots interior line consisting of starting guards Joe Thuney and Shaq Mason and center David Andrews. Furthermore, he would not count against the compensation draft pick formula if signed since his former team released him.