Mack Hollins was reportedly the subject of a trade inquiry that the New England Patriots declined, according to NFL reporter Albert Breer. Boston.com columnist Colin McCarthy published the story on Sept. 12, 2026, saying a “respected” contender called about Hollins roughly four to five weeks ago and the Patriots preferred to keep him rather than move him in a deal that would have involved Kayshon Boutte.
What Breer reported on Mack Hollins
Breer’s reporting, relayed by McCarthy on Boston.com on Sept. 12, states that at least one playoff-caliber team contacted the Patriots about acquiring Mack Hollins. Per the report, the interested club compared Hollins to Kayshon Boutte and indicated a preference for Hollins if Boutte were on the table. The Patriots, according to Breer, declined the inquiry and did not make Hollins available.
“I had a team calling me asking if the Patriots would trade Hollins. This was about four or five weeks ago. I brought up Boutte, and they were like, ‘No, we’d rather have Mack Hollins’. That team was a contender, and you’d respect them if you knew who it was. And the Patriots didn’t want to trade him.” — Albert Breer, as shared Sept. 12
Boston.com’s package also highlighted a social post from analyst Carlos A. Lopez that summarized Breer’s lines and was cited by local outlets. That social line repeats the core claim: a contender asked, and New England declined.
Why the Patriots reportedly said no
The Boston.com account frames the Patriots’ choice as driven by roster construction and special-teams value rather than pure receiving upside. The team had already moved Kayshon Boutte (now with the Texans) before the season, which left New England lighter on a specific type of depth. Breer and McCarthy note that Hollins provides slot and perimeter snaps plus special-teams versatility — traits the Patriots valued enough to resist the inquiry.
Reporting also notes Hollins logged meaningful snaps in Week 1, reinforcing the staff’s comfort with him as a contributor. Importantly, the reported call to New England predated A.J. Brown’s injury and the opener, so the Patriots’ evaluation of Hollins appears to have been made without the immediate context of Brown’s current absence.
Receiver reps with A.J. Brown sidelined
With A.J. Brown sidelined following a high-ankle sprain in Week 1, Boston.com projects the Patriots will lean on Romeo Doubs, Mack Hollins and DeMario Douglas to absorb a larger share of targets and snaps. How those reps split game-to-game will depend on formations, matchup planning and in-game performance.
Hollins’ Week 1 usage and special-teams role were specifically cited as reasons New England kept him rather than trading for like-for-like depth. Expect Hollins to rotate across the perimeter and the slot, with Doubs likely taking on the prominent outside role and DeMario Douglas filling intermediate and slot snaps as needed. For more on Douglas’ status and contract context, see the Patriots Report piece on demario douglas contract.
What it means for Sunday vs. the Steelers
Against the Steelers next Sunday, New England is likely to emphasize short- and intermediate-area passing concepts that mitigate Brown’s deep-threat absence. That approach should increase target volume for the remaining top options and require creative alignment work from the coaching staff to cover the lost vertical snaps.
Mack Hollins could see a mix of designed space routes, perimeter releases and continued special-teams snaps; his Week 1 involvement makes him a more immediate, multi-phase contributor than a purely rotational depth piece. Ultimately, exactly how many targets he gets will hinge on defensive looks and the quarterback’s reads, so the Patriots’ reported decision to retain Hollins signals trust but not a guaranteed target share.
Source notes and uncertainty
All reporting summarized here is attributed to Colin McCarthy’s Boston.com story (Sept. 12, 2026), which relays Albert Breer’s reporting. The calling club was described by Breer as a “respected” contender but was not named; that identity remains unverified and should be treated as open. Breer’s characterization of the caller’s preference for Hollins over Boutte and the Patriots’ decision to decline the inquiry are reported claims, not statements issued by the team.
Boston.com included a social summary that captured Breer’s lines; that post was shared publicly by Carlos A. Lopez on Sept. 12. Below is the social reporting line as relayed in local coverage:
“The #Patriots received a call from a contender about a potential trade for Mack Hollins, but New England did not want to trade the veteran, per @AlbertBreer.” — Carlos A. Lopez (Sept. 12)
Readers should note: the identity and motives of the calling club are unconfirmed, and the report is secondhand reporting of Breer’s remarks. The core, attributable facts are Breer’s reported inquiry, Boston.com’s Sept. 12 publication, and the claim that New England declined to move Hollins.
Key takeaways:
- Mack Hollins drew outside interest, per Albert Breer, and New England reportedly declined the inquiry.
- The Patriots’ decision appears tied to Hollins’ Week 1 snaps and special-teams value rather than only receiving upside.
- With A.J. Brown injured, expect Hollins, Romeo Doubs and DeMario Douglas to see expanded roles in the short term.
FAQ
What happened with Mack Hollins?
Albert Breer reported that a contender contacted the Patriots about acquiring Hollins roughly four to five weeks before Sept. 12; Boston.com’s Colin McCarthy relayed that Breer said New England declined the inquiry.
Why does Mack Hollins matter?
Breer’s reporting and Boston.com’s write-up emphasize Hollins’ Week 1 role and special-teams value, which reportedly made the Patriots reluctant to trade him even when the caller favored Hollins over Kayshon Boutte.
What happens next?
Expect Hollins to be part of the rotation while A.J. Brown recovers. The exact snap and target split will be game-plan dependent; the calling club’s identity and motives remain unverified.
Source attribution: This article summarizes reporting by Colin McCarthy at Boston.com, published Sept. 12, 2026, which relays remarks from NFL reporter Albert Breer. The original Boston.com story is available at: https://www.boston.com/sports/new-england-patriots/2026/09/12/patriots-reportedly-unwilling-to-trade-away-wr-mack-hollins/. The Carlos A. Lopez social post cited above was shared publicly on Sept. 12, 2026 from his X account (@LosTalksPats).
