The Colts Need to Re-Sign Talented Offensive Playmaker

The Indianapolis Colts need to do whatever it takes to re-sign Alec Pierce. The fourth-year wide receiver is having another great season and deserves a big contract.

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler and Matt Bowen ranked the NFL’s 25 best looming free agents, and Pierce was No. 7 on the list. Here’s what Fowler wrote about Pierce:

“What we’re hearing: Teams I’ve talked to anticipate Pierce will hit a big number in free agency. They think the $20 million per year threshold isn’t out of the question for him. Pierce is poised for his first 1,000-yard season and has the size/speed combination teams covet. The Colts have decisions to make on offense. If they pay Daniel Jones — who has chemistry with Pierce — do they let Pierce walk? Much of that will depend on how Pierce’s market develops. The Colts typically don’t do extensions during the season.”

Pierce is immensely talented and one of the Colts’ top offensive players. That’s why the team needs to retain him.

The Colts Need to Re-Sign Wide Receiver Alec Pierce

His Career Thus Far

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, last season. He recorded 824 receiving yards and seven touchdowns, which were both career highs. He also led the NFL with 22.3 yards per catch.

Will the Colts Keep Pierce?

Colts receiver Michael Pittman Jr. said the price will keep going up if the team doesn’t re-sign Alec Pierce quickly (via Indy Star’s Joel A. Erickson):

“People have always seen him as a deep threat, but I think what he’s doing in the intermediate game now, I mean, he’s really opening up his game and showing people what he can do. If we don’t sign him quick, I mean, the price just keeps going up.”

Pittman is right. The Colts need to sign Pierce immediately. They don’t have to wait until the offseason rolls around. They can re-sign him to an extension now.

In the past, the Colts have extended players during the regular season. They re-signed Jack Doyle in 2019 and Grover Stewart in 2020.

However, keeping Pierce could be difficult if he really does command $20 million per year. Daniel Jones becomes a free agent as well and will also be looking for a big payday. However, look for Indy to find a way to re-sign Alec Pierce. They can’t afford to lose an offensive weapon like him.