According to PFF’s Bradley Locker, Alec Pierce, player for the Indianapolis Colts, is their proposed franchise candidate for the Horseshoe from a list of each of the 32 NFL teams.:
Indianapolis Colts: WR Alec Pierce
The Colts could ostensibly deploy the franchise tag on either Daniel Jones or Pierce, but the latter seems more likely given its thriving market.
Pierce was one of the best receivers in football last year with an 81.0 PFF receiving grade, 2.10 yards per route run and a 2.1% drop rate. Additionally, his receiving grade of 97.9 ranked ninth among qualified players.
Considering Pierce’s next contract is expected to end around an AAV of $28 million, the franchise tag seems like a reasonable play for the Colts if they are wholeheartedly committed to retaining the 25-year-old. Meanwhile, in Jones’ case, almost all signs point to a reunion – and potentially an extension before the new league year.
Honestly, it was realistically between Pierce and starting quarterback Daniel Jones among potential options.
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While Pierce isn’t expected to surpass Jones in terms of average annual value on his next deal, he could attract a wider range of potential suitors — if he actually hits the free agency market. So far, Pierce has seemingly been connected to almost every NFL team that could be looking for a wide receiver upgrade early in the offseason.
Meanwhile, there are only a handful of starting quarterback openings for Jones, and all indications are that he wants to return to Indianapolis and be paired again with head coach Shane Steichen, where he was in the midst of a career year before serious injuries struck down the stretch, including a season-ending torn Achilles.
According to Spotrac, Pierce is currently set to land a 4-year, $81 million contract. However, that number seems a bit low given the raging NFL free agency fever these days (just look at former Colts defensive lineman Dayo Odeyingbo last offseason, who signed a 3-year, $48 million deal with the Chicago Bears in free agency).
Pierce, 25, has caught 47 receptions for a total of 1,003 receiving yards (21.3 year average) and 6 touchdown receptions over 14 starts in 2025. Arguably the league’s premier deep threat, he led the league in yards per reception average for a consecutive season while with the Colts. However, Pierce has become a more complete route runner since entering the league as a 2022 2nd round pick of Indianapolis. His elite ability to vertically separate, spike the ball, jump, and make highly contested acrobatic catches is special.
