Alec Pierce doesn't get the ball enough. He likely never will with the Indianapolis Colts as long as head coach Shane Steichen is in charge of the offense. That, to be sure, is not a fair statement to either Pierce or Steichen, but it is nonetheless true.
Steichen's system works best with play-action, which means a team needs a good running back. Indy has a great running back in the person of Jonathan Taylor. Pierce might work best when he works in a pass-heavy offense that gets him the ball a lot. He hasn't lived that kind of life yet, though.
He could, in 2026, find a new team that gets loads of passes to him, helps him get to 1,400 yards receiving, and gets a lot more press than he has gotten in Indy. Should Pierce sign with a big market team, one can assume he will get a lot more attention. And he will likely earn an even bigger contract in the future because he will probably be more productive.
Indianapolis Colts' Alec Pierce matches something the Philadelphia Eagles' DeSean Jackson did
Who knows? That new team might be the Philadelphia Eagles. That would make sense as Philly is never afraid to make a bold move under general manager Howie Roseman. Whatever he can do to improve his team, he will probably do. Pierce would make the Eagles better.
One thing is certain, though. Pierce matched a record by Eagles great DeSean Jackson this season in that the Colts' receiver had more than 1,000 yards receiving but fewer than 50 catches. The only other player to do that in the 21st century was Jackson, who accomplished the feat in 2010.
In 2025, Pierce caught 47 passes for 1,003 yards and six touchdowns. In 2010, Jackson caught 47 passes for 1,056 yards and six touchdowns.
Just as Pierce did this season, Jackson led the NFL in yards per catch that season. He did so four times in his career. Pierce has done so in each of the last two years.
One is right to wonder why the Indianapolis Colts' wideout doesn't get the ball more. He was targeted a career-high 84 times in 2025, but that was just six more times than he was as a rookie in 2022. He was also fourth on the team in targets, well behind the top two, Tyler Warren (112) and Michael Pittman, Jr. (111).
Who knows where Alec Pierce will play in 2026? Hopefully, he returns to the Indianapolis Colts, but if he wants to have a chance at catching a lot more passes, he should probably go elsewhere.