Rashid Shaheed Sign
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Rashid Shaheed is a veteran WR/return specialist who signed with the Saints as an undrafted free agent in 2022 before being traded to the Seattle Seahawks in November 2025 for 2026 fourth and fifth-round picks.
Alec Pierce may not be an Indianapolis Colt next season. While Pierce has stated his admiration for the franchise, he has also expressedinterest in exploring other options.
On theUp & Adams show with Kay Adams, Pierce made his thoughts clear. “I love Indy, I’ve loved playing there, great organization, great people in the city, just a ton of support,”Pierce stated. “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.”
Alec Pierce Draft
GettyIndianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce recorded 47 catches for 1,003 yards and six touchdowns in 2025.
The Colts currently have the fourth-lowest amount ofcap space in the league. Quarterback Daniel Jones’$37.8 million transitional tagputs the Colts in a precarious space when it comes to attempting to sign Pierce.
Pierce has been consistently ranked as the number one wide receiver free agent available across avariety of sports outlets and is expected to garner top of the market money at the position.
CBS Sports writerZachary Pereles wrote, “Pierce has the size/speed/strength combination that makes him the next potential member of the $20+ million per year club, and at just 25, he is on a strong upward trajectory.”
Spotrac has his market value set at an average of $20.2 million annually, with him projected to sign a four-year contract.
All that being said, Pierce’s future with the Colts is very much up in the air, and the team should begin exploring backup options if he were to leave.
The Top Free Agent WRs May Be Out of The Colts Reach
Rashid Shaheed Stats
GettyFree agent wide receiver Rashid Shaheed recorded 687 receiving yards, 69 rushing yards, 786 return yards and 4 total touchdowns in 2025.
There are several other wide receiver options set to become available once the Free Agency period rolls around. The Colts should be looking for a young and cheap deep-threat option to fill Pierce’s role. The consistent top five options available are Romeo Doubs, Wan’Dale Robinson, Mike Evans, Jauan Jennings, or Rashid Shaheed.
While all productive play makers in their own right, their projected values all range from$12 million to$20 million contracts, potentially putting them out of the Colts price range. While not unfeasible, given the Colts’ current amount of cap space and other areas of need, it’s unlikely that they would divulge too much capital into the receiver position beyond attempting to retain Pierce. The option the Colts should pursue of the top candidates would probably be Rashid Shaheed, given that he’s only 27 years old and known for his speed. However,Spotrac projects his market value at $14.1 million annually, which is quite steep for a receiver who has never topped800 receiving yards in a season.
While Pierce is the ideal player to remain, there is another underrated option the Colts should explore.
Tutu Atwell Would Offer the Colts Cap Flexibility and Fill a Need
Tutu Atwell Stats
GettyLos Angeles Rams wide receiver Tutu Atwell scored an 88-yard game-winning touchdown against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 4 of the 2025 season.
The Los Angeles Rams are expected tocut tieswith receiver Tutu Atwell after a disappointing 2025 campaign. While not the 6’3’’ jump-ball receiver that Pierce is, Atwell is known for his explosive ability and speed. In 2025, Atwell recorded an average of 32.0 yards per catch.
Atwell’s biggest issue last season was a lack of usage. He was buried in the depth chart behind Puka Nacua, Davante Adams, and the three tight-ends that the Rams enjoyed utilizing in their 12 and 13 personnel packages. In the three years prior, Atwell increased his yardage each season. In 2024, he caught 42 receptions for 562 yards.
While he is not Alec Pierce, he is a young and cheap option that would add a vertical element to the team. At only 26 years old, he is well within the Colts’ range asSpotrac projects Atwell to sign a $2.6 million annual contract.
It might not be a perfect scenario, but if the Colts can’t retain Pierce or sign Shaheed, Atwell would offer the team more flexibility with the cap space that they have.