The New England Patriots were active in free agency, and one of the positional players they signed was a true fullback, Reggie Gilliam, from the Buffalo Bills. The last top player who plied that trade for the Patriots was James Develin, a big, bruising blocker who plowed the road for Patriots running backs during the Tom Brady era.
Now, Gilliam has revealed he is looking to Develin for some tips, as he's locked onto a great role model not only at the position but as a former Patriot.
Develin was strictly a blocker who didn't produce much as a runner or pass-catcher. His highest number of rushes in a season was six, and catches were 12. Gilliam has had eerily similar first six years in Buffalo to Develin's.
While he'd like to be more involved as both a runner and a pass-catcher, it's safe to say he's a blocking back first, and anything additional is gravy.
Regardless, if the Patriots are thinking of more reliance on the run game, Gilliam is a perfect fit as a lead back. Like Develin, Gilliam is a block of granite at 6'0" and 244 pounds, built to bulldoze linebackers and defensive linemen and to open up holes for Patriots' runners that were largely non-existent in 2025.
Reggie Gilliam will be a big asset in the running game for the Patriots offense
The Patriots' run game was decent in 2025 as Rhamondre Stevenson held onto the ball after the first couple of games, and rookie TreVeyon Henderson showed his explosiveness with four touchdown runs of over 50 yards. Yet, neither gained 1000 yards. In addition, a lot of their production came without the offensive line doing much to help. That's where Gilliam's strengths come into play.
Patriots Wire's Danny Jaillet has cited Gilliam's research on the Patriots' past fullbacks, and the name of the last top one, James Develin, stands out.
"New England Patriots fullback Reggie Gilliam is beginning to do his homework on how the organization has embraced the fullback position. While doing his research, he has come across one name in particular that Patriots fans will remember: James Develin...Develin is certainly not a bad player to try to emulate.
He played for the Patriots from 2012-2019 and won three Super Bowls with the organization. He also earned a Pro Bowl nod in 2017, becoming the first Patriots player at the fullback position to do so since 1978. He certainly made his mark in Patriots history, and now Gilliam will look to do the same."
Gilliam is definitely cut out of the same mold as Develin, and he couldn't have chosen a better role model. Develin's forte was bone-crushing hits on linebackers to open holes for Patriots runners like James White back in the day.
That's exactly the role Gilliam is expected to play.
He and blocking free-agent tight end Julian Hill were signed to help open holes for the running backs, who were nonexistent last season. If they can help spring Stevenson, Henderson, and company this season, they'll make quarterback Drake Maye's job that much easier in 2026.
That's the objective the team is hoping they achieve.
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