Patriots OC Josh McDaniels previously coached Hollins to a career-best season back in 2022, when McDaniels held the Raiders’ head coaching position. Hollins’ 89 targets, 57 receptions and 690 receiving yards from that year are all career-highs. NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reports that Hollins can earn up to $10.4 million on the new contract. While Hollins is unlikely to produce as a weekly WR3, he provides the offense with needed speed and can be counted on for a few big games this season.

There were few big plays to go around in the Buffalo passing game, but Hollins was the straw that stirred the drink, snagging a 34-yard touchdown by Mossing Trent McDuffie right before halftime and splitting the safeties for another 32 yards on Buffalo’s final scoring drive. Here’s a fascinating free agency about to unfold: Hollins led Bills receivers in snaps this year, is an A-Plus Wideout Blocker on the outside, and was frisky enough as an outside receiver to make some big catches in key moments. Is that worth a big contract in today’s NFL, where everyone wants to run two safeties and good blocking is at a premium? You can probably argue that it’s more valuable than Gabe Davis was last year, and Davis was handsomely rewarded. Hollins turns 32 in September and is nobody’s idea of a fantasy superstar, but he looks likely to land as a starting outside receiver somewhere based on his work in 2024.

Hollins has now gained first downs on eight of his last nine receptions since Week 16, while also being held under 35 receiving yards during that span. Hollins’ biggest contribution to the win was when he seemingly injured Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey on a screen-pass blocking play in which Hollins harshly drove Humphrey to the ground. Hollins can be expected to handle his typical two-to-three-target workload against the Chiefs next week.

Hollins was one of three active wide receivers for the Bills who didn’t play Khalil Shakir for any snaps on Sunday. Hollins was used early in the game but was on the bench for most of the second half. The veteran has been an important part of the receiving corps in Buffalo this season, operating as the team’s best blocking receiver and the ultimate “locker room guy.” He figures to play a decent amount of snaps in the playoffs given his intangibles and blocking prowess.