When the New England Patriots dove into the free agent market last spring, they were looking for playmakers. Their biggest move was signing veteran wideout Stefon Diggs to a three-year deal, but an under-the-radar move was the addition of Mack Hollins.
Hollins’s two-year, $8.4 million contract paid off in a big way as he posted the second 100-yard game of his career in Sunday’s 28-23 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. With six catches for 106 yards, Hollins is up to 26 catches for 323 yards and two touchdowns this year, and nearly matching his season total from last year with the Buffalo Bills (31-378-5).
In effect, it’s been Buffalo’s mistake of letting Hollins leave town that has helped New England find a diamond in the rough, and that information has fueled his 2026 breakout.
Patriots Are Unlocking What the Bills Never Did with Mack Hollins
Hollins was a contributor in the Bills' offense one year ago, playing 853 offensive snaps, but he was never a main driver on offense. The 32-year-old was also used more as a deep threat with an average depth of target (aDOT) of 14.6 yards according to Pro Football Focus.
The result saw Hollins post 1.05 yards per route run and made the Bills believe he was expendable. Having said that, even ex-Buffalo WR Stevie Johnson knew that was a bad decision, judging by Sunday's comments about Hollins.
"Management’s decision to not resign the fan-favorite Mack Hollins for a few M’s, especially considering he was the glue and energy for the WR room, is puzzling."
In a second post, Johnson even implied that Hollins felt disrespected by the Bills' offer, saying, "knowing you’re getting 1-2 catches each game— For pennies… I wouldn’t want to resign either."
Fortunately, Buffalo's blunder has ended up being a huge win for New England.
Hollins is still going long frequently with an aDOT of 11.5 yards this season. But his usage has been more efficient with 1.62 yards per route run. The Patriots have also used Hollins more out wide, with his slot percentage dropping from 31.3% with Buffalo last season to 20.6% this season.
While he can still play multiple roles, you can’t argue with the results, which played a key role in the Patriots' victory over the Buccaneers. Hollins led the team with 3.53 yards per route run on Sunday, with 22.6% of his snaps coming in the slot. The Patriots also had him go downfield with an aDOT of 15.1 yards, but his biggest impact may have come as a blocker.
Long known for being an aggressive blocker, Hollins wasn’t used in that role frequently in Buffalo, with a 42.1% blocking rate. The Patriots have bumped that to 48.0% percent this season, though. While his 53.1 run blocking grade on PFF wouldn’t suggest it, Hollins still has a big impact on plays, including a key block as an inline that sprung TreVeyon Henderson for a 55-yard touchdown (h/t @NFL) in the third quarter.
Assuming his foot remains on the gas pedal, it isn't unfathomable to imagine Hollins' performance taking another step in 2026 after getting a year with quarterback Drake Maye and head coach Mike Vrabel under his belt.
Hollins is doing a lot of things he didn’t do in Buffalo, and he’s getting handsomely rewarded for it in New England. With an injury to Kayshon Botte also leaving the wide receiver room shorthanded, Hollins could have more opportunities going forward to keep showing the Bills what they’re missing.