The Chargers have been linked to Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce by NFL Network’s Manti Te’o.

Te’o believes Pierce, alongside Ladd McConkey, could give the Bolts a duo similar to Davante Adams and Puka Nacua on the Rams.

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“If Alec Pierce were to go to a place like the Chargers, it’s going to be dangerous. You talk about somebody who’s fast, who’s physical, who’s a big target, can take the top of the defense. Now you have the ability for Ladd McConkey to do what Ladd McConkey does in the short-term medium range zone,” Te’o said.

“And then you add that to Mike McDaniel and all the stuff that he’s going to add with the pre-snap motions. Whenever you structure your offense, you want different attributes in your wide receivers. Your slot receiver is a guy that can just occupy the middle of the defense. But you need the guy that can be that lone X wide receiver.”

That’s where Pierce comes in for the Chargers. The wideout is an unrestricted free agent this offseason, but there has been speculation that the Colts will use the franchise tag on him as the team is aiming to re-sign the 25-year-old.

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Pierce is regarded as one of the best wide receivers available, as he is coming off a 1,000-yard performance in 2025. He averaged 21.3 yards per catch last season, giving the Chargers a perfect weapon for Justin Herbert on the deep ball. Pierce also recorded six touchdowns ahead of hitting the free agent market this offseason.

McConkey is coming off a bit of a sophomore slump as he recorded 789 passing touchdowns and six scores last season. His numbers decreased from his rookie campaign, where he posted 1,149 yards and seven touchdowns on 82 catches.

Several factors played a part in McConkey’s lack of production, but the addition of Pierce would perhaps put the former Georgia product in the best position to shine as a slot receiver. That would then make Pierce the X receiver in a high-powered Mike McDaniel offense.

Then again, Spotrac has Pierce signing a four-year deal worth $80.99 million. That’s an average annual value of $20.2 million. That could be a steep price for a Chargers team that needs to prioritize re-signing some of their own players, namely Odafe Oweh, and addressing the offensive line in free agency.

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This article originally appeared on Chargers Wire: Chargers linked to Colts wide receiver in free agency