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Rumored Patriots target Alec Pierce reportedly expected to make at least $27M per year, might not hit free agency
The Colts opted not to place the franchise tag on Pierce this past week, opening up the possibility he could leave in free agency.
If the Patriots want wide receiver Alec Pierce, they’ll have to cough up some serious dough to get him. And even then, they might not get the opportunity to sign him in free agency.
Pierce is expected to land a contract that pays him at least $27 million per year, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported Sunday. The Colts are also making a push to re-sign Pierce ahead of the start of Monday’s legal tampering period, with negotiations “expected to go down to the wire,” Fowler added in his report.
By just about all accounts, Pierce is the top wide receiver scheduled to become a free agent this offseason. As such, the 25-year-old is expected to receive a contract that will make him one of the highest-paid players at his position. ESPN NFL reporter Dan Graziano projected that Pierce will get a three-year, $80 million deal with $55 million guaranteed.
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Pierce, who’ll turn 26 in May, has been one of the NFL’s most explosive receivers over the last couple of years. He’s led the NFL in yards per reception in each of the last two seasons, helping him cross the 1,000-yard mark in 2025. He had 47 receptions for 1,003 yards and six touchdowns this past season.
Even after Pierce’s strong season, the Colts took a risk on Tuesday when they decided to place the transition tag on quarterback Daniel Jones. That decision meant that Pierce couldn’t receive the franchise or transition tag, making it a little more likely he could leave.
A day later, Pierce indicated that he would like to test the open market. He told the “Up & Adams” show that he felt he “kind of earned the right to explore free agency, see what’s out there and just make a decision that’s best for (his) career and (his) family.”
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In the same interview, Pierce also revealed what he’s searching for.
“Definitely quarterback play and stability in a franchise, winning culture. Things like that, I’d say, are the most important,” Pierce said. “Just being in Indy, playing with a ton of quarterbacks, I think they’re on the way to figuring that out with Daniel if they can get a long-term deal with him because I believe in him a ton as a quarterback.
“But I think I’ve understood the battles that come with not having that stability. So I think as a free agent, that would be something I would look into a lot.”
As Pierce said, he played with the likes of Matt Ryan, Sam Ehlinger, Anthony Richardson, Joe Flacco, and Gardner Minshew before the team found some success with Jones this past season. Drake Maye would be an improvement, though, after his runner-up MVP finish this past season.
The Patriots are on the market for some wide receiver help this offseason, especially after they made their decision to release Stefon Diggs this past week. They’ve also been linked to Eagles star wide receiver A.J. Brown, while Packers wide receiver Romeo Doubs has also emerged as a possbility in free agency.
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