Eliot Wolf
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INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - FEBRUARY 24: General manager Eliot Wolf of the New England Patriots speaks to the media during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 24, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
The New England Patriots’ wide receiver plans are coming into focus following the release of wide receiver Stefon Diggs on Wednesday. The team is expected to make a major push for Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce. Tony Pauline of Essentiallysports.com reported this.
The Patriots have been linked to Alec Pierce quite a bit over the last 24 hours. Just recently, Ian Rapoport indicated that the Patriots were ‘clearing the decks’ to make a big move at the wide receiver position. NFL insider Jordan Schultz also confirmed that the Patriots were among the teams watching Pierce and his availability.
Now, the pursuit appears to be picking up, as noted by Pauline.
“In the past few hours, I also learned the New England Patriots are hot for Pierce and are expected to make a big push for the wideout. This makes sense as just yesterday the team cut Stefon Diggs and, as stated above, they’ve displayed little interest in Mike Evans.”
New England Patriots Could Benefit From Pierce’s Production
This would certainly be a major domino to fall for the New England Patriots. Pierce had a productive 2025 season. He recorded 47 catches for 1,003 yards and six touchdowns. He averaged 21.3 yards per reception, which led the NFL. The yards and receptions were both career-highs to this point.
He was able to record 20-plus yards per catch for the second season in a row, as he had done so in 2024 as well.
For his career, the wide receiver has played in 64 games. He has recorded 157 receptions for 2,934 yards and 17 touchdowns. His longest reception of the season was 66 yards. That came against the Houston Texans in week 18. The receiver had two 100-yard games this season.
This report makes sense, given recent team moves as well. Diggs’ release saved the Patriots $16.8 million and salary-cap money. Pierce is coming off his rookie contract and will be looking to set the market and free agency. A deal here would potentially be more salary cap friendly.
A Move That Makes Sense for New England Patriots
A move for Pierce makes sense for the Patriots. For one, Drake Maye is going to need a big-play threat at the receiver position. Diggs was that player in 2025 and recorded over 1,000 yards on the season. Pierce has that same level of playmaking ability.
Secondly, the Patriots were looking for a younger option at wide receiver. Pierce fits the bill there as well. He is 25 years old. In comparison, Diggs is 32 years old. The Patriots would be getting a significantly younger big-play option here. They would be able to have him for the prime years of his career, before potentially negotiating another contract.
It will be interesting to see how things play out here. The Pierce rumors have gained steam for the past couple days. Now, it looks like they are the front-runners for the receiver. He would be a major splash for the Patriots as they begin their free agency period. This could be a great start and address a major need for the organization, all in one move.
If there is a certainty here, it is that the Patriots need a playmaker. Pierce fits that bill here, and he gives them a solid piece that they can build around. The organization would be wise to move quickly on any potential deal, as the wide receiver market is extremely competitive.