The most critical goal for the New England Patriots has been achieved: getting into the "Tournament" as Patriots' Hall of Fame Coach, Bill Parcells used to call it. You can't win it all if you don't. Helping get there was a young, MVP-caliber quarterback, Drake Maye (who, foolishly, probably won't get the nod). But there have also been some less-heralded and unexpected contributors. One is wide receiver Mack Hollins.
Hollins was a little-known journeyman receiver outside of Orchard Park, New York, where, in 2024, he helped the Buffalo Bills reach the NFL Championship game. He was a nine-year NFL veteran whom Mike Vrabel plucked from free agency in one of the offseason's quieter moves.
Hollins had never caught more than 57 passes in any one of his NFL seasons nor broken the 700-yard mark. Yet the big, 6'4", 220-pound mega-target had a lot more to offer if you took the time to peruse more than the surface stats. He was a seasoned veteran who delivered, and that was exactly what the doctor ordered for a Patriots team in dire need of professional veteran wide receivers.
Mack Hollins was a classic free agency "diamond in the rough"
Vrabel spotted Hollins' talent and signed him to a free-agent contract early on. Even better, it was a two-year deal, not a one-and-done, and if he plays well, the ante goes up in free agency. That's what differentiates a Mike Vrabel from backroom GMs who can't see the forest for the proverbial trees.
Recently, top analyst Evan Lazar spotlighted one of Hollins' more unnoticed attributes on a key play in the win over the Ravens.
Image on the left is where Hollins is when Maye starts his throwing motion. Image on the right is where Hollins caught the ball. Anticipation is a beautiful thing. https://t.co/Nr9Soocb1u pic.twitter.com/fM56o0h1Ol
— Evan Lazar (@ezlazar) December 22, 2025
Lazar's perspicacity highlighted just one smaller aspect of his repertoire that sets him apart from his NFL competitors, who are perhaps more lauded but actually less football-savvy. Hollins is a seasoned professional, and while he's 32, he keeps himself in tip-top condition, which has helped him have a long, increasingly successful NFL career.
What Mack Hollins did in 2024 is nothing compared to what he's doing for the Patriots
Mack Hollins caught only 31 passes for the Buffalo Bills in 2024 for 378 yards. That's no great shakes, so why did Vrabel make a concerted effort to sign the free agent? It's a legitimate question that deserves and will get a legitimate answer. It's because he's a big-time playmaker.
Looking beneath those global stats, a close look at Josh Allen's meager 31 catches with Hollins in 2024 reveals startling indicators appear. Of his 31 catches, five went for touchdowns. That's a pretty fair percentage of touchdowns per reception right there. But there's more.
Of the other 26 catches Hollins hauled in from Allen, 25 went for first downs. So to parse these stats a bit more, this receiver has 31 catches, of which 30 went for either a touchdown or a first down. That's 98 percent ( 97.7 percent rounded up) of his catches that went for 'big plays" - touchdowns or first downs. It's unlikely any other NFL player can boast such a record.
Vrabel pounced for good reason; Mack Hollins is a "big-play" big player. And in 2025, he's even upped his numerical production. To date, in 15 games, he has 46 receptions for 550 yards and two touchdowns.
In addition, 28 more of his receptions have gone for first downs. So that's 30 big plays out of 46 receptions. While it's only a mere 65 percent compared to his Bills' other-worldly 97 percent in 2024, it's still a solid percentage.
Hollins has been a major cog in the Patriots' offensive evolution. It's gone from a team that couldn't score touchdowns in 2024 to one that does all the time, and has beaten 12 of the 15 teams it has played in 2025.
There's more to come, and Patriot Nation can be certain that if good things continue, Mack Hollins will be a major part of the festivities. It's what "Big-Play" Mack is all about.