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“Him being able to have confidence in his game that early is great to see.”
Drake Maye has often been compared to Josh Allen early in his career, and new Patriots wide receiver Mack Hollins also recognizes the similarities between the two quarterbacks.
During his introductory press conference, Hollins shared what trait they both share and how his experience playing with Allen will help him adjust to Maye.
“I think one thing I learned playing with Josh is that you have to be in good condition, because the play is never really over,” Hollins told reporters. “Seeing that in Drake’s game is exciting. You just have to carry that mindset and always be ready, because you never know what Drake might escape from, duck under, or jump over. You have to be there because there’s nothing worse than, as a player—this goes back to my little league days when I played quarterback—you pull off a great move in the backfield and then look around and see your receivers walking, thinking the play is over because they assumed you got tackled.”
“So, being able to step up and get the whole team on the same page, knowing that ‘Drake’s not down yet,’ is going to be important,” Hollins added.
This past season, Hollins benefited from that mindset when playing alongside Josh Allen. His longest reception of the season, a 44-yard catch against the Colts, came after he broke free downfield as Allen rolled out of the pocket and launched a deep pass.
Thanks to plays like that, Hollins finished his single season in Buffalo with 31 receptions for 378 yards and five touchdowns in the regular season, along with five catches for 104 yards and a touchdown in the postseason.
Reflecting on his time with Allen and the similarities with Drake Maye, Hollins said, “I think one thing I learned playing with Josh is that you have to stay in good condition because the play is never over, and seeing that same thing in Drake’s game is exciting. I can just carry that over.”
Maye certainly demonstrated a strong determination to fight through pressure and sacks during his rookie season, often scrambling to escape the opposing team’s pass rush. While there were times when this worked against him, Hollins appreciates seeing that kind of resilience in a quarterback, viewing it as a sign of confidence.
“I think confidence is hard to come by for a young player, but seeing him have that confidence in his game so early is great,” Hollins said. “It’s not easy to step into a league where you’ve got players ranging from 20 to 40 years old. There’s such a wide range, and to walk into that room with confidence is impressive.
“Being able to see glimpses of that when I watched him, it was really great.”
In the eyes of many, Maye had a strong rookie season, throwing for 2,276 yards, 15 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions with an 88.1 passer rating, along with 421 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns. However, those numbers could have been even better if the supporting cast around him had been stronger.
At 6-foot-4, Hollins could provide the downfield threat that Maye lacked last season. As the quarterback and wide receiver work to build chemistry later this offseason, they already share a common bond: both are UNC alumni, with Hollins playing at Chapel Hill from 2012-16.
Hollins shared that he got to know Maye’s brother, Luke, during his time at UNC, and now he’s looking forward to building a relationship with the youngest Maye.
“I know he made a great choice in colleges. Tar Heel guys are just a little bit better,” Hollins joked. “I actually know his brother, Luke. We were in school together, and their family is great. I think that’s important at any position, but especially at quarterback, because there’s so much pressure on quarterbacks, especially in today’s game.
“So, he’s been raised well, but he’s also a fierce competitor, just from watching him and playing against him. I know that, and I’m excited to get the chance to play with him and catch the ball.”
