New England Patriots Extend an Offer Sheet To Bills Running Back Mike Gillislee
The New England Patriots have extended an offer sheet that would be hard to match to Buffalo Bills running back Mike Gillislee.
Ian Rapoport first reported that the New England Patriots have extended an offer sheet to restricted free agent running back Mike Gillislee. The offer is for 2 years and $6.4 million, with $4 million in the first year.
Rapoport added that the way the deal is structured, the Bills will be hard-pressed to match.
Here we go: #Patriots extended an RFA offer sheet to #Bills RB Mike Gillislee. It’s for 2 years, $6.4M, source said. $4M in the 1st year.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 18, 2017
The #Patriots structured the Mike Gillislee deal to make it tough for the #Bills to match. Similar to Chris Hogan from last year. 5 days.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 18, 2017
The “5 days” is his tweet refers to the five days that the Buffalo Bills have to match New England’s offer.
Jeff Howe from the Boston Herald reports that Buffalo likely won’t match.
The Bills haven't informed Gillislee of their final decision yet, but the first indication is they don't believe they'll match, per source.
— Jeff Howe (@jeffphowe) April 18, 2017
Gillislee is a three-year NFL veteran. He spent one season with Miami and has been in Buffalo for the last two. He really broke out last season with 577 rushing yards on 101 attempts in 15 games. He could now bring his 5’9″ 219lbs frame to Foxboro.
The Bills would be compensated. as they’s be entitled to a fifth round draft pick if they allow Gillislee to leave for New England.
Early in the day, the Patriots extended running back James White, keeping him in Foxboro through 2020. It seems that the team is looking towards the future of their backfield. Up until today, each back on the roster was only slotted to play here through 2017.
Now, it seems the Patriots will be loaded at running back if Gillislee signs. This could mean that the offer to free agent LeGarrette Blount has been pulled. There simply isn’t enough room on a roster for more.