The New England Patriots entered Day 1 of de facto free agency and signed three players. They were an edge, a guard, and a fullback. The first two were clearly needed positions. The third, a fullback, is a throwback position to the old days of NFL football and to the Patriots' dynasty, but wasn't as obvious a need.
Regardless, the Patriots signed a nice player in Bill's free agent, Reggie Gilliam, to play fullback. Like signing Mack Hollins in 2025, it could pay big dividends.
The fullback position was once a staple in NFL football when two-back sets were the norm. Now, they don't feature all that much in NFL offensive schemes, but they have in the past for the Patriots and now seemingly will again with the Gilliam signing.
Like signing Hollins in 2025, the Patriots again raided their top AFC East rival and pilfered another solid, if unheralded, offensive player from the Bills. Yet, like Hollins, who was a top performer for the Super Bowl Patriots' offense, Gilliam has the potential to replicate that success in 2026.
The Patriots' added another solid offensive player from the Bills
Expect Gilliam to add as much to the Patriots' offense in 2026 as Hollins did, but in a more subtle way. Protecting Drake Maye is Job 1 this offseason. That comes primarily from the offensive line, which needs to be addressed big time this offseason, but the role of a fullback in that area can't be overstated.
They become the last line of defense if there's a breakdown in protection or a necessary adjunct to a play in blitz situations.
Pro Football Focus (PFF), the best NFL analysts in the business rated Gilliam as a free agent.
"Snaps: 540 | PFF grade: 69.7
"Even as a fullback, Gilliam has been a key part of the Bills' offense over the last few years. He peaked in 2025 with a 72.4 overall PFF grade, the best of his career. Gilliam was instrumental as a blocker with an 89.5 PFF pass-blocking mark and a 75.1 PFF run-blocking grade. The second-most-valuable full back by PFF Wins Above Replacement over the last two years, Gilliam is helping keep a unique position alive and well."
The 28-year-old doesn't do much to directly help the attack himself (he had only two rushes and two catches in 2025). It's as a blocker that he makes a difference. His 89.5 pass-blocking grade is especially enlightening.
He'll be a big, 6'0", 244-pound obstacle for pass-rushers seeking to do damage to franchise quarterback Drake Maye. And he's also solid as a run-blocker. One way to keep Maye upright is to run the ball effectively. Gilliam will also help there.
Gilliam's proficiency as both a run blocker and a terrific pass-blocker will not telegraph either a run or a pass if he's on the field and there's a second back in the backfield. The Patriots telegraphed their plays to a fault in 2025.
Gilliam's presence on the field will mitigate that negative and enhance both aspects of the offense. Like his Patriots' forebears, big fullbacks Sam Gash (who, interestingly, later signed with the Bills as a free agent) and James Develin, expect Gilliam to be a major contributor to the offense's success as a blocker.
Like signing Mack Hollins in 2025, a former Bill who was terrific for the Patriots last year, Gilliam will be an under-the-radar superb 2026 Patriots' free agent signing. Whenever you add a good former Bills player, it's addition by subtraction as well as getting a player who'll help your team.
Expect Gilliam to make the Bills' fandom just as annoyed with his signing as they were with Hollins' last year. It's just a little added sweetener for any free agent addition.