March 8, 2026, 9:33 p.m. ET
If the Indianapolis Colts are going to re-sign Alec Pierce, what will they have to pay to do so?
On the eve of the NFL’s legal tampering period starting, the NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe reported that there could be some “eye-popping” contract values within the wide receiver market.
One of those players with a hefty price tag is Pierce.
“The Colts are trying to re-sign him before he reaches free agency,” Wolfe said. “They value him quite a bit, but he’s a big ticket target, who, from people I talk to, if he hits the market, could reach $30-plus million a year as a wide receiver.”
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler shared what he is hearing when it comes to Pierce’s potential contract number and believes that he is “poised to make at least $27 million per year on a new deal.”
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Some of the interested teams, according to Fowler, are New England, Las Vegas, Washington, and Tennessee.
While the Colts may have the best intentions of getting a deal done before late Monday morning, Pierce said recently that he owes it to himself to explore all options. Entering the open market, where he will be coveted, could help him earn closer to the higher end of those projected contract values.
Also important to Pierce is having a stable quarterback situation. That will be a key aspect of this decision-making process as well.
Had GM Chris Ballard been able to strike a deal with Daniel Jones, he could have instead used the franchise tag on Pierce, which is valued at $27.29 million for a wide receiver this season — or right in the range that Pierce is expected to earn in free agency.
But instead, the Colts face uncertainty and a lot of competition when it comes to retaining Pierce.
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