It’s safe to say the New England Patriots’ decision to sign Mack Hollins hasn’t gone over well with the team’s fans. After months of speculation that New England was looking to make a big move at wide receiver, the Patriots announced they had reached a deal with the former Buffalo Bills player. That news sparked frustration among Patriots fans, who had been excited about the possible arrival of an elite receiver.
Patriots Agree on Deal With Mack Hollins
On Monday, March 10, the Patriots announced they had agreed to a two-year, $8.4 million deal with Hollins, which could rise to $10.4 million.
During his time in Buffalo, Hollins caught 36 of 58 targets for 482 yards and six touchdowns (including playoffs). His final touchdown for the Bills came in their 32-29 AFC Championship loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Now, in 2025, Hollins will be catching passes from Drake Maye as the Patriots look to surround their franchise quarterback with more talent. Maye threw 15 touchdowns in 13 games as a rookie, and Hollins’ size and physicality give the young quarterback a solid red-zone target.
Fans Frustrated With ‘Historically Bad’ Receiver Situation
While Hollins’ signing was announced on the first day of free agency, impatient Patriots fans were far from happy. Having been linked to elite names such as Tee Higgins, A.J. Brown, and Chris Godwin, the move came as a huge disappointment.
It wasn’t long before posts appeared on social media mocking the announcement.
Respected wide receiver analyst Matt Harmon also joined in with a sarcastic post.
Another post described the team’s receiver room as “historically bad.”
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Higgins has been franchise-tagged by the Cincinnati Bengals, ruling him out, while Godwin chose to return to Tampa Bay. Brown remains a possibility, but the Patriots would need to offer significant compensation to tempt the Philadelphia Eagles into a trade.
DK Metcalf, meanwhile, was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers after requesting a trade from the Seattle Seahawks. And Davante Adams has agreed to join the Los Angeles Rams for 2025 after the team announced plans to move on from Cooper Kupp.
Patriots Still Have Options
While the lack of wide receiver movement is frustrating for fans, plenty of options remain.
The 2025 NFL Draft, while not as deep as recent years, should provide solid options in the first two days. If New England wants to add a veteran, Keenan Allen, Stefon Diggs, Amari Cooper, and DeAndre Hopkins are all still available in free agency.
While fans are understandably concerned about the team’s receiver situation, things could still look very different come September.