With the NFL’s legal tampering period for free agency opening on Monday, a bevy of big name moves were quick to hit the news wire.
The Patriots were one of those teams to make a sizable splash, signing edge rusher Dre’Mont Jones to a three-year, $39.5 million deal to help a New England pass rush in desperate need of more playmakers heading into the 2026 season.
Outside of the Jones signing, it’s been relatively quiet for a franchise with lots of cap space and multiple holes on the roster in need of addressing after a blowout loss in Super Bowl 60.
Unless, of course, you want to talk about the fullback market.
If you love fullbacks, you love the offseason the Patriots are in the midst of putting together.
NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo was first to report the Patriots signing former Bills fullback Reggie Gilliam to a three-year, $12 million deal, with $6 million guaranteed for the 28-year-old.
Gilliam has spent his entire career with Buffalo, originally signing with the Patriots’ AFC East rivals as an undrafted free agent out of Toledo in 2020. In his six seasons with the Bills, he compiled 16 catches for 135 yards and 2 touchdowns, to go along with 8 carries for 14 yards.
OK, not exactly lighting the world on fire. But when it came to Gilliam’s chief role with the Buffalo as lead blocker for running back James Cook, he was as good as it gets playing a position that’s gone out of vogue league-wide.
Led by Gilliam and aided by Buffalo’s offensive line, the Bills led the NFL in rushing in 2025. Gilliam was on the field for nearly a quarter of all offensive snaps for Buffalo (21%), making him an integral, albeit quiet, part of their success on their way to a 12-5 season.
The addition of Gilliam in New England should be an upgrade from Jack Westover, the tight end-turned-fullback who has been in that dual role for the Patriots since being signed in October of 2024 after being released by Seattle. Westover initially joined New England’s practice squad before later being added to the active roster. In 17 games in 2025, the Patriots’ rushing success rate with Westover at fullback was an unimpressive 33%, per Andrew Callahan of The Boston Herald.
Despite that lack of success, MassLive’s Mark Daniels is reporting that Westover is being tendered by the Patriots. The 26-year-old was an exclusive rights free agent, but Daniels notes in his post on X that Westover will “be back” in Foxborough.
Fullbacks aplenty at 1 Patriot Place!
Next up…pass catcher? Offensive line help?
Stay locked in to WEEI and WEEI.com for all the latest on the Patriots’ offseason.