There was a lot to like about the Patriots' receiving corps going into the 2026 season, and it had been far too long since the team and fans could say that. Over the years, Bill Belichick was not known for drafting well at the position, nor did he prioritize signing the caliber of talent the offense needed, even when Tom Brady was the quarterback.
Now that Mike Vrabel and Eliot Wolf are in charge, however, it's clear that philosophy has changed, starting with signing Romeo Doubs and trading for A.J. Brown this summer.
And although trading Kayshon Boutte appears to be a mistake at the time and even more so now that Brown is out with an injury, the rest of the depth chart has proven to be just as valuable, particularly Mack Hollins.
The seasoned veteran immediately stepped up for Drake Maye after Brown suffered what we now know was an ankle sprain, becoming his most reliable target amid the chaos of the fourth quarter.
Since joining the roster last year, he hasn't served a significant role on game day, but he has been a mismatch for defenders and a deep threat Maye can utilize, which will become increasingly important with Brown sidelined for potentially six games.
Luckily for Maye, Hollins is ready and available for the expanded role, which almost didn't happen if things had gone even slightly differently this offseason, as he was essentially forced into a restructured contract or else he would have been released. That should have the quarterback appreciating the receiver a bit more as things ramp up for him in the coming weeks.
Mack Hollins was almost not on the Patriots roster for the 2026 season
While speaking to the Boston Herald this past week, Hollins discussed his revised contract heading into this season and said he was somewhat forced to make the changes, or he would have been cut by the Patriots.
Although he wasn't necessarily happy about it, he has enjoyed his time in New England so far and understands that sometimes that's part of the business, which now motivates him to have an even bigger season.
That chip on his shoulder could ultimately help elevate Maye and the offense without Brown on the field, so while it's not ideal for Hollins, it could become a difference-maker when the team needs him the most.
“Nobody wants to change anything, but that’s sometimes what happens. (It) makes you want to come out and work, but not any harder than I already work. Yeah, I mean, that’s an unfortunate side of the business, but I’m happy to be here.
That’s kind of how it works. That’s the risk that you run. It’s like, ‘Hey, you could take this offer, or we could potentially cut you.’ They’re not saying, like — that’s the business. So, it could go either way. Like, I’m happy to be here. My goal is to go hit all those incentives. It doesn’t matter whatever you put them at. I’m gonna go try to hit them, and it’ll be water under the bridge.”
It's this kind of sacrifice that kept the Patriots afloat during the best years of their dynasty, with Tom Brady leading the charge by taking less money or revising his contract to free up more salary cap space to get the players the roster needed.
Of course, Hollins isn't on the same level as Brady, but he very easily could have declined what the team was asking him to do, but he didn't. Now that he's expected to take on a bigger role in the offense for the foreseeable future, Maye has plenty of reasons to be thankful he made that sacrifice, because it is, in fact, a sacrifice.
The Patriots made it more difficult for Hollins to reach his incentives. He was set to make $300,000 for 30 receptions, $300,000 for 40 receptions, and $400,000 for 50 receptions. The team changed it to $300,000 for 47 receptions, $300,000 for 50 receptions, and $400,000 for 55 receptions.
Given he recorded 46 receptions for 550 yards and two touchdowns last season, it's clear they're trying to avoid paying him what they previously promised, which isn't ideal for a player in Hollins' position, since he has averaged 355 yards a season during his career.
It's certainly a frustrating development for the receiver, but he's ready for the challenge and it's clear that the receiving corps isn't scared about what's to come with Brown off the field
There is a lot of confidence, from Mack Hollins and others, about the Patriots' receiver room without A.J. Brown
From the moment Brown went down with an ankle injury in Week 1, concerns grew about what this meant for an offense expected to rely on his production through what is widely considered one of the league's most difficult schedules.
It became crucial for others to step up in his absence, and Hollins did right away, making it clear that the rest of the receivers are ready for the challenge ahead, as he emphasized that they have the talent to make an impact without the superstar on the field.
“They’re going to play 11 guys out there on offense, no matter who’s up, who’s down. Obviously, A.J. is a great player, and we would love to have him, but he’s not there, so there’s nothing you can do but dress 11 and get ready to work.
We’re all ballplayers. It’s not like we can’t do anything without A.J. Like I said, we’d love to have A.J. out there, but ships keep sailing.”
Adding Brown to the roster seemed to be the plan from the start of the offseason, although it didn't officially happen until June. Rumors linking Vrabel to his former draft pick from his days as the Titans' head coach began early, and it was clear the team wanted to add a superstar WR1 to elevate Maye and the offense.
Once it became official, the offense was immediately recognized as one of the league's most talented, and Maye was expected to have an even easier time reaching another peak in Year 3.
Obviously, that came crashing down the second he got injured against the Seahawks, but that doesn't mean the other receivers won't step up to fill the void he left.
Hollins started last week, and he is already projected to be the top guy moving forward, with hopes for better play from Romeo Doubs as well. They're ready for the challenge, and as long as they can live up to their word, the Patriots should be in good hands.
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