The Patriots' 2025 offseason was filled with plenty of excitement for a lot of reasons, mostly due to Mike Vrabel becoming the new head coach. Much of that optimism continued through free agency, with Eliot Wolf leading the way to a redemption arc after a failed 2024 class made it difficult for fans to believe he was the right man for the presumed General Manager role.
They hit on nearly every player they signed and made it even better by accomplishing the same thing with their draft class, so there were high expectations this year that they would do the same thing.
Although there aren't many signings that have been criticized, there certainly haven't been nearly as many needle-movers brought in or big bucks spent on top-name players. However, one of the best decisions they've made was bringing in fullback Reggie Gilliam, especially since he had been a longtime member of the Bills.
He was considered the best fullback of last season by Pro Football Focus and is presumed to be a key part of what the Patriots plan for the offensive line this upcoming season. Even better is his ability in the passing game, too, adding another layer to what is otherwise a widely overlooked position.
That's what makes hearing from fan favorites like James Develin even more intriguing, as the Patriots legend believes Gilliam is a great player who will make a major difference in New England.
Reggie Gilliam might become the Patriots best signing of the 2026 offseason
While speaking to Evan Lazar of Patriots.com this past month, Develin, who served as the Patriots' fullback for a good chunk of the latter dynasty era, had nothing but good things to say about Gilliam, and that should excite fans who probably overlooked just how impactful he can be for the offense.
“Reggie can do it all. He's a tenacious run blocker, he can carry the ball, he can catch the ball out of the backfield, and then when he has the ball in his hands, he can do something with it. ...I’m just happy to see he made it to New England and I think New England made a great choice. He's a great fullback."
The Patriots might not have used a fullback much over the last few years, but we know that Josh McDaniels loves to utilize them in his offense, so there's reason to believe that will become a significant part of the game plan this fall.
Gilliam fits exactly what they need, from becoming an extra body on the offensive line to help Drake Maye get more time in the pocket and create more space for running backs to being a secret weapon the quarterback can use in the passing game that could trip defenses up.
He has all the makings of an integral part of their offensive identity moving forward, and he has the trust of a respected veteran that Patriots fans will get behind.