The Indianapolis Colts' offense has been an unstoppable force this season, and a major reason is their ability to stretch the field. Entering the final season season of his rookie contract, Alec Pierce is set to be an unrestricted free agent in March of 2026 if the Colts don't sign him before the new league year.
Alec Pierce has been a vital player to the Colts' success in recent years and is one of the best deep threats in the league. Alongside Michael Pittman Jr. and Josh Downs, the trio is one of the most dynamic in the league.
While his stats haven't been flashy this season, his yards per catch sit just below 20, proving his worth as a deep threat. Plus, he seems to be better at running underneath routes.
The Indianapolis Colts should not let Alec Pierce test the market
Drafted in 2022, he signed a four-year, $6 million deal, which he has outplayed. Alec Pierce has been a major addition to the Colts' offense. In particular, last season, with seven touchdowns and 22.3 yards per catch. Pierce has also been able to perform at a high level with a handful of different quarterbacks.
Just like in 2023 when Ballard was negotiating with Michael Pittman Jr., the Colts nearly let Pittman walk in free agency but eventually signed him to a monster $70 million deal over three years. Pittman has proven his worth and has been one of the most consistent receivers over the past few seasons. This year, the Colts had a bunch of question marks that are turning out to be elite players.
Having Pittman and Pierce on the same team makes the outside receiver duo hard to defend against, with both players being over 6'2"; they can both stretch the field and be big red-zone targets.
Combined with the athleticism of Tyler Warren and the speed of Josh Downs in the slot, along with Jonathan Taylor, it's no wonder the Colts' offense is performing at such a high level.
While still young, the Colts offense can't afford to lose a major weapon like Alec Pierce to free agency. Entering the '26 season, the Colts have nearly $70 million in cap space and could offer Pierce a lucrative deal with some performance bonuses. Being 25 years old, Pierce is still in the prime of his career, and Spotrac estimates his value to be around the $14 million per year mark.