FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- The official deadline for the Buffalo Bills to decide whether to match the New England Patriots two-year, $6.4 million offer sheet for restricted free-agent running back Mike Gillislee is 4 p.m. ET, although it wouldn't be a surprise if the team's intentions become known at some point before that time.

The decision will have a trickle-down effect on the Patriots in multiple areas.

Mike Gillislee could step into a major role for the Patriots if the Bills don't match his offer sheet. Joe Robbins/Getty Images

If the Bills don't match: New England will surrender a fifth-round draft choice to the Bills and add Gillislee to its running back stable. Barring any other trades, that would leave the Patriots with just six draft picks: two third-rounders and single picks in the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh rounds. It also would lessen their need to draft a running back, as they would have Gillislee, James White, Dion Lewis and Rex Burkhead under contract, with promising second-year player D.J. Foster and special teamer Brandon Bolden also in the mix.

If the Bills do match: This could open the door one final time for the Patriots and LeGarrette Blount to revisit a potential deal, assuming the club would keep its original offer to Blount on the negotiating table. The offer sheet to Gillislee seems to show that the Patriots are willing to move on from Blount, or at the least won't be budging too far off their original offer to him. With seven draft picks in this scenario, the Patriots also could look closer at what is widely viewed as a strong class of prospects, with no shortage of fits for their system.

Bill Belichick on Gillislee: "A strong, downhill runner. One-cut guy that's hard to tackle, good complementary player to [LeSean] McCoy. ... Gillislee's a good back. They've got a good combination there. It's good depth.” -- from the 2016 season