Mike Vrabel
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New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel is interested in a "third-down machine" ahead of the 2026 NFL draft.
Former New England Patriots fullback James Develin is excited to see new Patriots signee Reggie Gilliam take the field. The fullback gave a shout-out to the team’s current fullback in an interview. Patriots.com’s Evan Lazar reported this.
The Patriots signed Gilliam to a three-year deal worth up to $12 million. This included $6 million in guaranteed money. Gilliam is a player who can contribute in multiple ways, and could be an asset for the Patriots, particularly in the running game.
In the meantime, Develin raved about Gilliam’s skill set in a recent interview with the media this week.
“Reggie can do it all. He’s a tenacious run blocker, he can carry the ball, he can catch the ball out of the backfield, and then when he has the ball in his hands, he can do something with it… I’m just happy to see he made it to New England and I think New England made a great choice. He’s a great fullback.”
Gilliam can help serve in a variety of roles for the Patriots. His blocking is a key part of his game. The Patriots struggled to find a lead run blocker for Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson. Now, this part of the game will be upgraded. In addition, Gilliam should be able to help on special teams. He served a similar role for the Buffalo Bills.
Patriots Have Starter in Gilliam
As it stands right now, Gilliam should be the starting fullback. The team also has players that can take over at the position, such as Jack Westover and Brock Lampe. However, Gilliam has the experience that those players do not have at this time.
Develin knows a thing or two about stellar play from the fullback position. He began his career on the Cincinnati Bengals practice squad in 2010, and played there until 2011. The New England Patriots were where he was able to get his big break. He played for the Patriots from 2012 to 2019. He was able to gain a strong reputation in New England. The bruiser was a three-time Super Bowl champion and a Pro Bowl selection in 2017. The selection marked the first time since 1978 that a fullback was selected to the game.
Patriots’ Offenses Historically Value Fullback
Josh McDaniels-led offenses have been known to feature the fullback quite heavily. In this way, they are almost like a throwback type of offense. Develin was revered and thought of highly by the Patriots and their fans. Now, Gilliam could serve that same role.
Fullback is not necessarily one of the most splashy. positions on the football field. However, this is more of a positional need as opposed to a big splash. The Patriots’ running game was strong in 2025, but minor tweaks were needed. This could be considered a minor tweak to a unit that showed he could play at a high level in 2025.
Patriots fans enjoy hard-nosed cosplayers, and both Gilliam and Develin fit the bill. It will be interesting to see how Gilliam fits into the Patriots’ plans at the position moving forward.