Linked to Tee Higgins and Chris Godwin during this year’s free agency period, the Patriots have yet to make their impact wide receiver splash. But they are adding a depth piece to that mix.
Mack Hollins is coming aboard on a two-year deal, NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo tweets. Hollins’ $8.4MM agreement will reunite him with three-time Patriots OC Josh McDaniels, who had signed him while in charge in Las Vegas.
Perhaps known as much for his shoe skepticism as his on-field work, Hollins has managed to remain a valuable role player for a few teams. The eight-year veteran is coming off a season as a tertiary target in Buffalo but one that managed a regular snap share despite the team giving Curtis Samuel an $8MM-per-year deal and trading for Amari Cooper midseason.
Hollins, 31, logged a 66% snap share with the Bills last season; that beat out Cooper’s (46%) with the team. Hollins also came through on the Bills’ biggest stage, catching three passes for 73 yards and a touchdown in the AFC championship game loss to the Chiefs. During the regular season, the 6-foot-4 pass catcher totaled 378 yards and a career-high five touchdowns, forming a rapport with Josh Allen. The Bills agreed to terms with Josh Palmer today and still have Samuel under contract. That effectively pointed Hollins and Cooper out of Western New York.
Hollins’ only greater single-season snap share came in 2022, when he suited up for the Raiders in McDaniels’ Las Vegas debut. While McDaniels did not enjoy a successful tenure, the experienced play-caller found good use for Hollins, who finished the ’22 slate with career highs in catches (57) and yards (690). Hollins’ best game that season came against Mike Vrabel’s Titans, when he caught eight passes for 158 yards and a touchdown in a two-point Vegas loss.
The Patriots, who pursued a few big-name wideouts last year, still have a hole on their depth chart. A few high-profile receivers remain in free agency — from Cooper to Stefon Diggs to Keenan Allen. The Pats have more to figure out here, but Hollins will supply some depth with scheme familiarity.
Patriots finally get their WR1
I suspect patriots draft McMillian out of Arizona
Give their young QB a true #1.
McMillian, Douglas, Hollins, Boutte could stand to add another but I get they want to see what Baker Pollk and other young guys have in season 2
Nice move,
Pats spending like someone is going to take the cap space back if they don’t use it soon
Typical Pats offseason spend everything on mid core guy on defense then spend nothing on offense it’s been going on for yrs
I bet most players don’t come to the pats because Krafts actions could come off as being a racist by firing Mayo after one season and avoiding the Rooney rule as best he can in every way possible personally I don’t think he is but get y people may think he is
@mc. Is hollins a defensive player. I swear he played he played wr. Stay on topic my guy
SMH dude… complain much?
I honestly think you’re serious.
rAciSt!!!
I would laugh but Hollins was a good soldier in Buffalo last year. He’s not the guy the Patriots need, but he’s a fine addition.
Why does the guy who refuses to wear shoes insist on playing in cold weather
He better not take away any playing time from the young guys. Everybody needs to see what the young guys can do, which I really hope is better than Mack Hollins.
Yeah this is odd. He’s not really going to help the young guys develop. He’s not a playmaker. He’s a fine wr4 on a team but the Patriots have about 7 of those. Odd to give him a roster spot over a young guy.
Why in the world you go from the MVP to Mack Jones 2.0 ?