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The Las Vegas Raiders need to bolster their pass-catching weapons for the projected No. 1 overall pick, Fernando Mendoza. Brock Bowers will be a go-to target for the former Indiana Hoosiers QB, should the Silver and Black select him.
Nonetheless, it can’t all be Bowers. As a result, with the Raiders having roughly $91.5 million in cap space this offseason, according to Over the Cap, free agency could be a place in which Las Vegas looks to find a wideout.
In a perfect world, George Pickens would be available, and the Raiders could sign him, but in reality, he’s expected to receive the franchise tag from the Dallas Cowboys. Still, other options could be a No. 2 receiver, and one of them is the Indianapolis Colts‘ Alec Pierce.
On Feb. 18, The Athletic’s Ted Nguyen noted that Pierce would be an ideal target for Mendoza.
“Personnel-wise, Alec Pierce is the perfect Mendoza WR,” Nguyen wrote on X. “Deep threat that can win with speed and body positioning. Mendoza throws an elite fade/back shoulder ball and loves it in big moments.”
Pierce had 47 catches for 1,003 yards and scored six touchdowns in 15 games in 2025 for the Colts, per StatMuse.
Alec Pierce’s Contract Projection
On Feb. 18, Daniel Popper of The Athletic published contract projections for the pending free agents this offseason. When it comes to Pierce, Popper projects the wideout getting a four-year, $102 million contract.
“Pierce is a vertical outside receiver who is sudden off the line of scrimmage, including against press-man coverage,” Popper wrote. “He led the NFL in yards per reception at 21.3, and 32 of his 47 catches went for explosive gains. He uses long strides to create space and has elite ball tracking, especially outside the numbers in contested-catch situations.
“Pierce has the leaping ability and body control to play above the rim. He has a second gear on vertical routes to create separation in the deep part of the field, and he will run past flat-footed corners who are playing off coverage.
“In 2025, he showed more capability in intermediate areas, setting a career high with 441 receiving yards between the numbers. Pierce’s speed and vertical ability can create sizable cushions both pre-snap and during the down. He takes advantage of these cushions by snapping off intermediate routes, though he is not always a deceptive route runner in these areas.”
Should Raiders Pay High Price for Pierce?
The question will be whether the Raiders want to commit to that number Popper’s projecting. While Nguyen believes Pierce is an ideal target, he wouldn’t want the Raiders to reach a specific price tag with the wideout at the cost of fixing the offensive line.
“I think they still should not waste money on flash-type signings, but using money on the offensive line and solidifying the line to me is money well spent,” Nguyen said on the Feb. 1 edition of the Just Win Podcast.
“I don’t know if they should be in a position to drop $30 million on Alec Pierce or something, but use that money on the trenches. I think it’ll test the competence of a play caller. Having a better offensive line unit and then making up those margins with skilled guys that aren’t as blue-chip.”
Eduardo Razo Eduardo Razo is a sports writer for Heavy.com, covering the NFL, MLB, and college football. He has previously covered the NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB for NBC Sports Washington and NBC Sports Bay Area & California, and has freelanced for PSG Talk, covering Paris Saint-Germain. He also worked as an editor at Athlon Sports, focusing on MLB and the NFL. More about Eduardo Razo
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