The Buffalo Bills entered the 2024 season with a widely recognized weakness at several position groups, namely at wide receiver. When the season rolled around, they'd pick up a rookie in the draft and signed Curtis Samuel to a three-year deal, but found a spark in a guy they brought in to just fill a hole.
Wideout Mack Hollins ended up leading the Bills in touchdowns catches this season, and was instrumental to the offense with his blocking and surprising big-play ability downfield.
Mack Hollins turned into a player the team truly needed. Now, as his one-year $2.6m contract expires, he is just one of several skill position players hitting free agency.
Mack Hollins' 2024 season
After a fun and frustrating start to the season, Mack Hollins quickly became a fan favourite. When plays broke down and Buffalo needed 15 yards, Hollins was there. His energetic and quirky nature were beloved by teammate and fans alike, and the second-best season of his career was a hit. His 378 yards on 31 catches was impressive, and his five receiving touchdowns led the roster.
The deep threat he constituted was as valuable as his blocking, which earned him the roster spot in the first place. By the end of the season, when the team needed someone, Mack was trusted. Khalil Shakir was the only other receiver to have Josh Allen's blind faith when push came to shove.
Keeping him
Mack Hollins projected market value, per Spotrac, is roughly the same as the deal he signed last season. One year, and only $2.4m. That seems a little low, considering his production, and Buffalo often offers above-market deals to players coming off prove-it deals.
Mack is probably looking at something closer to a two-year deal worth $7-9m. That value isn't bad, and keeping a valuable locker room guy and important role-player seems plenty worth the projected cost.
The Buffalo Bills will still need to address the receiver position this offseason. With Mack Hollins and Amari Cooper both hitting free agency, and the letdown that was the Curtis Samuel deal, Buffalo needs more.
Keeping Mack Hollins would allow the team to mitigate the damage that this offseason could do. That raised floor could cut the freefall a riskier move would offer, and the money isn't massive. Even if they did move on from him later, or underuse him, the cost is mitigated.
Letting him walk
Still, the Buffalo Bills are coming out of a reset year - believe it or not - and should be expected to manufacture significant change over the next two offseasons. Mack Hollins, a then-30 year old veteran on a cheap one-year deal to play a role, was never part of the long-term plan.
He will turn 32 this coming season, and the Bills had a focus on getting a younger core to compete for the foreseeable future. If they were to commit to an older receiver, there are other options.
Mack Hollins was very good, but if the Bills commit to him they could be pushing an issue down the road. If Hollins does get a deal for greater than market value, Buffalo deepens the money hole they've almost climbed out of. With bigger deals on the horizon, like the prospect of a Myles Garrett trade, that money could be more valuable elsewhere.
Final decision
Ultimately, this decision feels easy. Mack Hollins isn't an expensive player or a household name, and signing him will not have a major impact on this roster's longevity. He was one of very few to excel in his role in 2024, and was happy doing it. With more change potentially on the horizon, keeping Hollins seems easy.
Be it a one-year deal or a two-year deal, there's no cause to believe that this signing would have any negative effect on this team or this locker room. Minimize the holes on this roster, cheaply, ahead of an exciting offseason.