The fullback is back in Foxborough. A fullback signing on day one of free agency usually doesn’t turn heads, but Reggie Gilliam’s arrival tells you exactly what kind of offense the Patriots are trying to build to support Drake Maye.
The fullback position is back in a big way for the New England Patriots.
Per Mike Garafolo, New England has agreed to terms with free-agent fullback Reggie Gilliam on a three-year deal worth up to $12 million. Gilliam will earn $4.4 million in the first year of the contract, with $6 million fully guaranteed.
Gilliam (28) stands 6’0”, 244 lbs., and hails from Columbus, Ohio. He spent his college days at the University of Toledo before being signed by the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted rookie free agent on April 25, 2020 — where he spent each of his first six seasons in the NFL before signing with the Patriots today.
The transaction not only weakens the rushing attack of an AFC East rival, but also signals a real revival of a staple position in offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels’ rushing attack.
Last season, the Patriots converted undrafted rookie tight end Jack Westover to fullback after their “plan A,” rookie free-agent fullback Brock Lampe, suffered a season-ending foot injury in training camp. Westover was tendered by New England earlier today as an exclusive-rights free agent and will likely remain on the roster for some time.
Filling in at fullback last season, Westover ranked 10th out of 10 qualifying fullbacks for his performance — earning an overall grade of 45.4, with a pass-blocking grade of 76.7 and a run-blocking grade of 47.1 in 316 total snaps.
Gilliam, on the other hand, was Pro Football Focus’ top-rated fullback in the NFL last season with an offensive grade of 72.4. He played 259 total snaps for Buffalo in 2025, earning a pass-blocking grade of 89.5 and a run-blocking grade of 75.1.
While the day-one signing of a fullback may not be the sexiest move we were looking for from the Patriots today, the impact it could have on New England’s rushing attack cannot be overlooked.
The Patriots struggled to support Drake Maye and the passing game with consistency on the ground for large chunks of the 2025 season. That revealed itself in the postseason, and the one-dimensional offense New England was forced to play contributed heavily to the distress Maye faced in the pocket on a snap-by-snap basis.
Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson will now have the league’s best fullback aligning in front of them to clear a path through the second level of the defense on early downs and in short yardage — another area of offensive deficiency in 2025.
For Henderson specifically, that could lead to greater efficiency per snap and eventually open larger gaps for the home-run hitter to exploit and spring explosive plays.
Akin to the days of Patrick Pass and James Develin, Gilliam’s signing is representative of a return to form for McDaniels’ gap-heavy scheme on the ground — and will provide much-needed balance for New England’s approach on that side of the ball.
If there was ever a “big swing” on a fullback in free agency, Gilliam was it this year. And the Patriots landed their guy.
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