Brandon Fusco and Vikings Agree to New Contract: Latest Details and Reaction

Just hours before starting their 2014 season, the Minnesota Vikings have reportedly agreed to a long-term contract extension with offensive lineman Brandon Fusco. 

According to Tom Pelissero of USA Today, Fusco's new deal is for five years and $25 million with $6 million in guarantees:

Pelissero also added that Fusco's new deal will take effect next year before noting how far the 26-year-old has climbed since his rookie season:

It's been a good week for guards in the NFC. San Francisco 49ers star Alex Boone ended his long holdout on September 1 by agreeing to a reworked two-year contract with the team that gives him more guaranteed money.

The foundation of any offense is up front in the trenches. Fusco has turned out to be one of the great finds in the NFL, going from the 172nd overall pick in 2011 to starting 31 games in the last two years while blocking for Adrian Peterson.

Fusco has credited the success of Minnesota's offensive line to continuity, telling Patrick Reusse of the Minneapolis Star Tribune that being able to work side by side with the same guys week after week, year after year makes it easier to understand rhythms and movements:

"This is our third year together," Fusco said. "After that long, with the hard workers we have, you don't miss a beat as far as knowing the other guys. John Sullivan is our leader...he calls the assignments, gets us going, and we take it from there."

While modesty is certainly a part of the Slippery Rock University standout, rest assured he has earned this contract extension with his performance on the field. Matt Claassen of Pro Football Focus wrote that Fusco rated as a top-five guard:

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When the season came to a close, Fusco's +14.5 overall grade was bested only by Louis Vasquez and Larry Warford at right guard, and Fusco's +11.6 run block grade ranked fifth among all guards. He was an average pass blocker (+0.9), but he showed significant growth from 2012. His Pass Blocking Efficiency jumped to 15th out of 59 guards and he gave up one or zero pressures in ten of the 15 games. Fusco may not have had many big blocks that stood out, but his solid play was quite consistent throughout the year.

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With Fusco under contract for the foreseeable future, the Vikings can feel comfortable knowing they don't have to worry about their right guard. His performance as a run-blocker is especially important for this team because of how valuable Peterson is to their offense. 

Even though Fusco doesn't grade out as an elite pass-blocker, he's competent in that area. Considering the Vikings are eventually going to be breaking in a rookie when Teddy Bridgewater takes over, they need dependability on the offensive line. 

This deal is a victory all around. Fusco gets paid for his hard work and performance over the last year, and the Vikings can relax knowing that they have one of the better offensive linemen in the league opening holes in the running game and keeping their quarterback upright. 

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