Pats Officially Ink Gillislee

The New England Patriots will acquire the services of restricted free agent Mike Gillislee after the Buffalo Bills failed to match the offer sheet.

The offer extended by the Patriots to the Buffalo Bills running back was for two years at $6.4 million dollars, with $4 million of the money coming in the first season.  As a result of Gillislee coming to the Pats, New England will have to part with a fifth round draft pick.

Gillislee had 577 yards on 101 rushes in 2016 and also contributed nine total touchdowns.  He has compiled 23 games in three seasons with Miami and Buffalo and was was drafted in the fifth round in 2013.

He now joins a Patriots backfield that includes Dion Lewis and James White, along with new off-season signing Rex Burkhead.  The deal with Gillislee also likely means the end of the tenure of LeGarrette Blount in New England.  The veteran RB had a career-high 18 touchdowns with the Pats a year ago.