Alec Pierce
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Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce elevates over Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Tyson Campbell during a January 5, 2025 game.
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce became one of the teams’ most valuable players in the last two seasons. Pierce, 25, proved that he is one of the best deep ball wide receivers in the league this past season, with an astounding 21.3 YPR on his 47 receptions.
The good news for Colts fans is that he was great with the team. The bad news is that his success has led to him being one of the top free agents on the market this offseason.
According to “The Athletic”, Pierce is projected to earn a four-year contract worth $102 million. Pierce was a candidate to get franchise tagged by the Colts, but the team instead opted to give it to quarterback Daniel Jones.
Pierce did an interview with NFL insider Kay Adams, where he dropped a very candid statement about what he’s looking for in free agency.
“I love Indy, I’ve loved playing there, great organization, great people in the city just a ton of support. I know we haven’t been as good as we could be and I know we can be,” Pierce said. “But at this point, I’ve kind of earned the right to explore free agency, see what’s out there and make a decision that’s best for my career and for my family.”
Pierce Praises Colts, Wants to Explore Options
Pierce has certainly earned the right to explore his options after the last couple of seasons. He’s been arguably the best deep threat in the NFL, and at just 25-years-old, he’s only now entering the prime of his career; can’t knock him for looking to earn the most money he can.
For Indy, it isn’t impossible for them to sign Pierce at his market value, but they are already paying Michael Pittman $29 million in 2026. It would be tough to justify having nearly $60 million, or 20 percent of the cap hit spent on two wide receivers.
There isn’t necessarily a right or wrong answer for the Colts. When Daniel Jones was healthy, the four-headed monster of Pierce, Pittman, Josh Downs, and Jonathan Taylor made the Colts one of the best offenses in the league. Attempting to run it back with the same unit (assuming Jones gets healthy early enough in the season) wouldn’t be a dumb move.
But neither would letting Pierce walk. As great as he is, he isn’t a top-10 receiver in the league, and he’s slated to get paid like one. You can absolutely still succeed with Pittman as the No. 1 guy, especially with JT in the backfield.
Pierce’s Potential Suitors This Offseason
Plenty of teams have already expressed interest in signing Pierce this offseason, including but not limited to the New England Patriots, the Buffalo Bills, and the Washington Commanders.
The Patriots and Bills are both Super Bowl contenders looking to solidify their relatively weak WR groups, and Pierce would be a great fit with either. If Indy gets into a bidding war with either team, it will come down to who is more desperate for Pierce’s services, and it will likely end with New England or Buffalo winning that battle.