New England Patriots Rumors: Team Hosts Restricted FA Mike Gillislee
The New England Patriots may look to sign another restricted free agent from the Buffalo Bills.
With veteran running backs Adrian Peterson, Marshawn Lynch and LeGarrette Blount all linked to the New England Patriots, the team appears to be kicking the tires on Buffalo Bills restricted free agent Mike Gillislee.
According to NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport Thursday, the Patriots recently hosted the talented Bills running back. If there is mutual interest, the Patriots would have to give up a fifth-round draft pick to acquire him since Buffalo gave him an original-round tender.
RFA action: #Patriots recently hosted #Bills RFA RB Mike Gillislee on a visit, source said. 🤔🤔🤔... Gillislee has an original (5th) rd tender
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 13, 2017
While the Patriots could risk losing yet another draft pick in this year’s NFL Draft, picking up a player like Gillislee would fill a need at the running back position. His youth and upside may be better at this point than any rookie they would draft.
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Gillislee is also a younger, faster option than either Blount, Peterson and Lynch. He is coming off a career year in which he rushed for 577 yards and eight rushing touchdowns. The numbers aren’t huge, but considering the fact he played behind Bills star running back LeSean McCoy, those are some impressive stats in a backup role. Add the fact that he averaged 5.7 years per carry, Gillislee would be a nice pick up for the Patriots’ offense.
The fourth-year running back also has the ability to catch the ball out of the backfield. The Patriots do have a number of those players at running back with Dion Lewis, James White and the newly acquired Rex Burkhead, but Gillislee is more capable of being a three-down back.
If Mike Gillislee doesn’t sign an offer sheet and the Bill don’t match, he would become the third player in the last two years to make the jump from Buffalo to New England.
The defending Super Bowl champions signed wide receiver Chris Hogan a year ago and recently signed top free agent cornerback Stephon Gilmore.
While the interest is not surprising, the fact that the New England Patriots remain aggressive this offseason says a lot about how the team will approach the 2017 NFL season.
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