Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce will be one of the NFL’s top free agents this offseason. The Colts must do whatever it takes to re-sign him.
What a crazy season it was for the Colts. They began the year 8-2, looking like a legitimate Super Bowl contender. Everything was going great, but then starting quarterback Daniel Jones went down with a season-ending Achilles injury. The Colts lost their final eight games and finished 8-9. They missed the playoffs for the fifth consecutive year.
Alec Pierce was one of the few bright spots for Indy this season. The former Cincinnati Bearcat morphed into the team’s main receiving option and continued to be one of the league’s most dangerous long-ball threats. That’s why the Colts must retain Pierce.
The Indianapolis Colts Must Do Whatever It Takes to Keep Wide Receiver Alec Pierce This Offseason
Glancing Back at His Career
The Colts drafted Alec Pierce in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft. He went on to have a decent rookie year in Indianapolis. In Week 6 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Pierce caught the game-winning 32-yard touchdown with 23 seconds left. It was the first touchdown of his career.
On Sunday Night Football, Pierce scored his second career touchdown. He also had four catches for 86 yards in the 54-19 blowout loss to the Dallas Cowboys. He finished his rookie year with 41 receptions for 593 receiving yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Pierce was expected to take a Year 2 leap, but he regressed instead. The Chicago area native caught just 32 passes for 514 yards and two touchdowns. As a result, some fans and pundits began to label him a bust.
Pierce ditched the bust label, though, in 2024. He recorded 824 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. He also led the NFL with 22.3 yards per catch.
This past season, Alec Pierce had 47 receptions, 1,003 yards, 585 yards, six touchdowns, and led the league again in yards per catch (21.3). He was impressive in the regular-season finale against the Houston Texans. In that contest, Pierce recorded 132 receiving yards and two touchdowns before being ejected for making contact with an official over a disputed call.
Will the Colts Retain Alec Pierce?
Fellow Colts receiver Michael Pittman Jr. will earn $24 million in 2026 and has a cap hit of $29 million. While he’s a solid player, his production doesn’t align with where his current contract is at.
Alec Pierce is expected to command a contract worth well over $20 million annually. It doesn’t make sense to pay both Pierce and Pittman over $20 million next season.
With that said, there’s certainly a possibility that the Colts will trade Pittman to save money. Perhaps a receiver-needy contender would be willing to give up a pick for the USC product. Such a trade would make it easier to re-sign Pierce.
Although Pierce will receive interest from several teams, look for him to stay in Indianapolis. The Colts won’t let him get away, as he’s an important part of their offense.
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