The New England Patriots faced another round of evaluating their crowded wide receiver group in the weeks leading up to the season. In the end, they chose not to part with Mack Hollins, even as another potential trade target loomed.
During a radio appearance, an NFL insider disclosed that an unnamed team expressed interest in Hollins several weeks before the club ultimately traded another receiver, Kayshon Boutte. The inquiry reportedly occurred about four to five weeks prior, though the Patriots did not entertain a Hollins trade at that time.
The discussion introduced an alternative: Boutte. The interested team indicated a preference for Hollins, prompting the insider to check Hollins’ availability with the Patriots. New England declined to move Hollins.
This sequence adds another layer to the Patriots’ late-summer receiver decisions. Boutte was ultimately dealt to the Houston Texans, but Hollins remained with the team. By the season’s first game, that decision carried additional weight.
Context around the trade illustrates how the Patriots managed their receiver room amid offseason additions. The club had integrated A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs in the offseason, while Boutte had already been the subject of trade chatter before training camp. The Patriots later explained that the receiver group offered depth and versatility, with players capable of filling multiple roles, blocking, and contributing on special teams.
After the Boutte trade, head coach Mike Vrabel commented that Boutte likely would have been inactive early in the season if injuries elsewhere limited the roster’s available special-teams contributors. The Patriots chose to keep Hollins, Brown, Doubs, DeMario Douglas, Kyle Williams, and Efton Chism III on the initial 53-man roster, underscoring the depth and flexibility within the position group.
Breathing room within the wide receiver corps became especially valuable when an injury impacted A.J. Brown early in the season. Reports noted Brown sustained an ankle issue, with indications of a possible high ankle sprain, casting further importance on Hollins as the team navigated through the early weeks.
Hollins had a productive previous season in New England, posting 46 receptions for 550 yards and two touchdowns over 15 games, including 13 starts. His performance contributed meaningfully to the offense during the team’s run to a high-profile postseason showing, and his role began to appear even more prominent as the season began.
As the season progressed, Hollins’ value appeared to rise, particularly if Brown’s injury status kept him uncertain. Hollins’ consistent contributions could provide stability for quarterback Drake Maye while the team assesses Brown’s health on an ongoing basis.
Weeks before the season opener, the Patriots reportedly faced an opportunity to move Hollins but chose to keep him. The decision helps explain why the team prioritized Boutte trade considerations over Hollins and why Hollins remained a central piece of the receiver corps entering the season.
Overall, the situation illustrates how the Patriots weighed market interest against internal evaluation of the roster’s balance, depth, and special-teams contributions. Hollins emerged as a dependable veteran option with a steady track record, and the team leaned on that experience as they navigated early-season challenges and injuries within the wider receiver group.
