The Washington Commanders and Indianapolis Colts have a need in common, which comes at wide receiver.
The Colts' top wide receiver from 2025, Alec Pierce, is a pending free agent and if he hits the open market, there is zero guarantee he'll return, as his market is expected to be robust.
In Washington, the Commanders have a pending free agent in Deebo Samuel and it's very possible they let him walk in free agency with the team looking to get younger. Should that happen, Washington will be short on talent behind Terry McLaurin.
In an article naming possible landing spots for the top-50 free agents this offseason, Sports Illustrated's Gilberto Manzano pegged Pierce as a potential signing for both Indianapolis and Washington.
Manzano also projects that Pierce will receive a three-year, $75 million deal in free agency.
Potential landing spots: Colts, Commanders
The versatile 6' 3" Pierce had shown flashes of his upside in his first three seasons, but he had too many quiet performances, never producing more than 41 receptions in a season. He’s now set up to break the bank after finally finding his footing in 2025, setting career highs in many statistical categories, with 47 catches for 1,003 yards. Pierce, who also added six receiving touchdowns, is a dangerous downfield playmaker, averaging more than 20 yards per reception in each of the past two seasons. The ’22 second-round pick quickly found chemistry with Daniel Jones and made plays with Philip Rivers and Riley Leonard at the end of the year.
Pierce is coming off a career year where he broke the 1,000-yard mark for the first time and once again led the league in yards per reception, cementing himself as an elite big-play weapon.
Because of that, and with the wide receiver market not being great, Pierce is expected to clean up in free agency — that is, if he gets there.
The Colts are very interested in keeping Pierce, and there has been rumors that Indy would slap the franchise tag on him if they can't get a long-term deal done with the explosive wideout.
However, a stalemate between the Colts and quarterback Daniel Jones might force Indy's hand to use the franchise tag on the veteran signal-caller instead, which would almost guarantee Pierce hits the open market.
Pierce would be a fantastic get for Washington, a team that badly needs more weapons in the passing game for Jayden Daniels.
Not only would he form a very good one-two punch with McLaurin, but Pierce would add a much-needed explosive element to Washington's offense.
Pierce would also check the younger and faster box the Commanders are emphasizing this offseason.
We believe Pierce is ultimately going to test free agency if the Colts don't tag him, and we also believe that would spell the end of his time in Indy.
If so, the Commanders would be one of the biggest threats to sign Pierce with their whopping $70.3 million in cap space to work with.
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