Falcons WR reacts to Aaron Rodgers recruiting Calais Campbell to Jets

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Mack Hollins understands why New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers would recruit defensive lineman Calais Campbell.

"Aaron’s played a lot longer than me," Hollins, 29, recently said about the 39-year-old signal-caller while speaking with Francesca Bacardi of the New York Post. "...I wouldn’t be surprised. Usually, if you’re a good player and you’ve been around the league a long time, usually guys have relationships with other players." 

Hollins spent the 2022 season with the Las Vegas Raiders and then signed with the Falcons in March before it was learned that Campbell was also heading to Atlanta via a one-year contract that reportedly is worth $7M fully guaranteed and can get up to $9M with incentives. 

As Bryan DeArdo of CBS Sports pointed out, Campbell told CBS Sports HQ's Josina Anderson in April he heard from Rodgers about possibly signing with the Jets. Rodgers didn't officially join the Jets from the Green Bay Packers until a trade was finalized on April 26. 

"Aaron Rodgers texted me and was like, 'Come on man, let's go win a championship together,'" Campbell, a six-time Pro Bowl selection, explained. "It was appealing to have Aaron Rodgers text you talking about winning a championship together. When it came down to it, I just had this gut feeling that Atlanta was a special place, and the value I could bring would be most effective there."

Campbell added one reason he signed with the Falcons over the Jets was because Atlanta will let him play on the edge as he did with the Jacksonville Jaguars.  

As for Hollins, he posted career highs of 57 catches, 94 targets and 690 receiving yards with the Raiders last season. He also tied his career best of four touchdown grabs and is now looking forward to catching passes thrown by second-year pro Desmond Ridder.  

"Any opportunity to be out on the field and compete, I really love," Hollins remarked. 

Rodgers, meanwhile, will have to settle for having multiple former Green Bay players as Jets teammates instead of Campbell this fall.