The Patriots’ receiver room has become one of the louder talking points around the 2026 season, and most of that buzz has centered on the arrival of A.J. Brown. But if the latest glimpse of Mack Hollins is any indication, New England may have another wideout ready to turn heads.
Brown joins a group that also includes Romeo Doubs, who was signed in free agency earlier this year, plus Kayshon Boutte, DeMario Douglas, Hollins, and Kyle Williams. The names don’t carry the same star power as Brown, but the early expectation is that this could end up being the most productive Patriots receiving group in years - a welcome shift for a room that has been quiet for too long.
Hollins, in particular, looks like a player worth watching as training camp approaches. He’s entering his second season in New England, and even if his numbers don’t jump off the page, he has already shown he can be a dependable option for Drake Maye when it matters most. That was especially true in the playoffs and the Super Bowl, when Hollins became the quarterback’s preferred target in the biggest moments.
That role appears set to continue this fall, and Hollins just gave Patriots fans another reason to keep an eye on him. In a video posted to the Patriots’ Twitter earlier this week, he was shown grinding through an offseason workout in a way that stood out immediately: strength, speed, and a frame that makes him look more like a tight end than a receiver. And yes, he was barefoot the whole time.
. @mackhollins on that offseason GRIND 💪 pic.twitter.com/5b9djJzDwm
- New England Patriots (@Patriots) July 1, 2026
It was the kind of clip that makes you pause for a second. Hollins was an under-the-radar contributor last season, finishing with 46 catches for 550 yards and two touchdowns. He also delivered his best outing in one of the season’s biggest games against the Bucs, when he topped 100 receiving yards.
With Brown and Doubs now in the mix, Hollins will slide further down the depth chart. Still, he’s already proven he can be a useful piece of what Maye needs from this offense, especially as a deep threat. And if this offseason work is any indication, he’s not treating second place on the depth chart like a reason to fade into the background.
Hollins looks ready to push for more, and that makes him one of the more intriguing Patriots storylines heading into camp.
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