Hollins signed a two-year deal in free agency.
In a Week 16 game against the Buffalo Bills last season, Drake Maye showed no fear on the road in a hostile environment in Highmark Stadium. Taking the ball first, the rookie marched the New England Patriots down the field in just six plays before throwing a perfectly-placed 28-yard touchdown pass to Kayshon Boutte.
Watching on the Buffalo sideline was wide receiver Mack Hollins, who immediately saw the confidence levels in the 22-year-old quarterback.
“I think as a young player confidence is hard to get. But him being able to have confidence in his game that early is great to see,” Hollins said of Maye on Friday. “It’s not easy to walk into a league where you’ve got some guys who are 40, you got some guys that are 20. It’s such a range and to be able to have confidence walking into a room like that, it’s not easy to do.
“To be able to see glimpses of it when I was able to watch [him], it was great.”
After agreeing to a two-year contract with the Patriots in free agency, Hollins will now be on Maye’s side in 2025. The two have only shared texts in the early days of his New England tenure, but already have a connection as former North Carolina Tar Heels.
Departing UNC in 2016, Hollins missed the quarterback in Chapel Hill by several years. However, he did get to know Maye’s brother Luke, who was a standout on the UNC basketball team.
“Their family is great. And I think that’s important at any position but especially quarterback because I think there’s so much more on the shoulders of quarterbacks — especially in today’s game,” Hollins shared. “[Drake] was raised well but then he’s a fierce competitor. Just from watching him and playing against him I know that. I’m excited to get opportunities to play with him and catch the ball from him.”
Hollins will now look to build chemistry on the field with Drake and build off last season in which he posted a career-high five touchdowns in Buffalo.
That relationship could come natural for Hollins after playing with Josh Allen, who Maye has drawn comparisons too early in his career due to their play styles and work out of structure.
“One thing I learned playing with Josh is you’ve got to have some good conditioning, because the play’s not over,” Hollins said. “And being able to see that in Drake’s game is great, I can carry that over. Just always be available because you never know what Drake might spin out of, duck under, jump over — you got to be there.”