By John Sarianides

The Patriots signed Buffalo Bills restricted free agent running back Mike Gillislee to a two year, $6.4 million dollar offer sheet. Gillislee is scheduled to make $4 million dollars in year one of the deal. 

The Bills have five days to match the offer but all indications are that they won’t. If they don’t, the Patriots would have to surrender their fifth round pick in the upcoming draft. 

Gillislee carried the ball 101 times for 577 yards and 8 touchdowns last season. It was the best season of his three year career. Gillislee became a valuable complement to LeSean McCoy last season, especially at the end of last season when McCoy battled injuries. 

At 5-11 220, the 26 year old Gillislee will replace LeGarrette Blount as the feature back as well as the short yardage and goal line back. Gillislee isn’t as big as Blount but he is more versatile. He is a better pass blocker and he catch the ball out of the backfield. Gillislee can play all three downs but with Rex Burkhead, James White and Dion Lewis in the same backfield with him, he won’t have too. 

Gillislee’s signing is further proof that the Patriots are going for it all in 2017. Bill Belichick clearly thinks his best chance to win next season is through free agency and not the draft. That is why he has had no problem dealing away picks for established players this off-season.

Welcome to New England Mike Gillislee. I can say that. With $10 million left in cap space, the Bills cannot afford to bring Gillislee back given the way the Patriots structured the offer sheet. He’s coming to New England. 

It is yet another brilliant move by the mastermind of moves, Bill Belichick.