Stampede Blue
Stephen Holder of ESPN broke news that Sauce Gardner’s trade to the Indianapolis Colts has resulted in a shift among Colts brass in re-signing efforts of Wide Receiver Alec Pierce. Per Holder:
The Colts had internally decided long ago that re-signing Pierce after this season was not financially prudent, according to multiple sources. With the presence of 2024 second-round pick Adonai Mitchell and his tantalizing talent, the Colts had come to terms with losing Pierce as a free agent in the lucrative wide receiver market and viewed Mitchell as his replacement.
But after Mitchell ‘s struggles with consistency, the Colts agreed to acquiesce to the Jets’ request to include Mitchell in the Gardner trade. It was not an easy decision. The Colts were inclined not to include Mitchell , according to multiple sources. But the evolution of Pierce’s game likely impacted the decision.
The thinking on Pierce has shifted, according to sources, and the idea of him returning is now very real. His very close friendship with Gardner, his college teammate, only adds motivation on the player’s part to get a deal done.
Holder also notes that part of this shift in thinking toward Pierce is due to his own development as a route runner. 41% of Pierce’s catches in 2024 were from “go” routes, but in 2025 that has dropped to 27% as Pierce’s route tree has expanded at the short and intermediate levels. His cuts have gotten noticeably quicker, allowing him to work different areas of the field more regularly.
The trade for Sauce Gardner not only traded away the Colts successor plan for Alec Pierce in Adonai Mitchell, showing a renewed belief in the Colts starting Wideout, but also added a Cincinnati Bearcat teammate. The move simultaneously got an obstacle out of the way for Pierce to remain in Indianapolis and gave him another reason to return.
Alec Pierce only has the rest of the 2025 season remaining on his rookie contract before hitting Free Agency in March 2026.
The Wide Receiver Market has exploded over the last two offseasons, with each of the Top 23 Highest Paid WR beginning new deals ranging from $20.5 million to $40.25 million per year within that span. 37 Receivers have been paid upwards of $10 million per year, and only 3 of those contracts predate 2024. While no estimate for Pierce’s next contract has been provided, the rising tide of Wide Receiver contracts has likely raised his price tag.
Despite not being the most targeted Wide Receiver in the NFL, Pierce’s impact has been a major boon for the Colts Offense. Since 2024 he ranks among Wide Outs:
Pierce’s impact as one of the NFL’s best deep threats is well known,...
