The Indianapolis Colts are looking at a tough offseason, thanks in large part to two major gambles that went south. That in and of itself is bad enough, considering the Colts won't have a first-round draft pick this year.
That becomes an even bigger issue considering how Indy is looking in free agency. There are lots of star players who could be on their way out the door, including quarterback Daniel Jones, safety Nick Cross, and edge rusher Kwity Paye. But the biggest star the Colts could lose is Alec Pierce.
It's safe to say that Pierce had a breakout season in 2025. He started getting attention in 2024, but he became explosive this year, and the league has taken notice. Already, there are rumors that he'll be priced out of Indianapolis, and now, there are more rumors about where he might end up.
Alec Pierce’s next chapter might not be with the Indianapolis Colts
ESPN's Aaron Schatz suggested that Pierce will likely end up signing with the Denver Broncos. The Broncos are coming off an impressive 2025 season and performed well in the AFC championship game, even without Bo Nix at the helm.
But Denver needs help in their wide receiver room, and it's considered their top priority. As Nix continues to develop, having a strong WR to work with will undoubtedly help. And according to Schatz, Pierce would be the perfect fit.
"After exploring a trade for Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle in November, the Broncos will finally get their WR2 by signing the Colts' Alec Pierce," he predicted. "A big, physical receiver who can block and win on contested catches downfield, he's a perfect fit for Nix's play style and Payton's offense."
The worst part is, there might be nothing the Colts can do to stop this from happening. Indianapolis might not have enough cap room to keep Pierce, especially considering they have to weigh Pierce against Michael Pittman, Jr.; one of them is going to have to go.
If the Colts decide to release Pittman, it could save up enough cap space to keep Pierce. But that also begs the question of whether or not Pierce will want to stay. If it comes to staying in Indy or jumping ship to Denver, he might see the latter as a more attractive option.
Ultimately, Indianapolis has a big task ahead. If Jones comes back, he'll be recovering from an Achilles rupture, which means the Colts will need Pierce even more. Jones can use all the help he can get, and if letting Pittman go is what needs to happen for Indy to keep Pierce around, then that's what they should do.