Surely the Patriots left an out in the contract to where Gilliam must be on the team to secure the 2027 guaranteed salary. The signing bonus is pledged and his 2026 salary too if on the roster.
The Patriots signed the unrestricted free agent to a three-year contract.
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As for the structure of the deal itself, it effectively guarantees Gilliam a spot on the roster in 2026 and also makes for a favorable outlook in 2027. His guarantees in both of those seasons, after all, are substantial and include the two years’ base salaries as well as his prorated $2.4 million signing bonus. That would not prevent the team from moving on, especially post-June 1, 2027, but it suggests that he is in the team’s plans for at least two seasons.