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Alec Pierce #14 of the Indianapolis Colts catches a touchdown pass against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on December 03, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
Former New England Patriots wide receiver Chris Hogan is not a fan of the team potentially signing Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce in free agency. Hogan appeared on the Patriots Report Podcast with Christopher Price recently and expanded on his thoughts.
Pierce has been connected with the Patriots multiple times over the past couple of days. The Patriots need a top wide receiver following the release of Stefon Diggs. Pierce could be that potential option.
Patriots Legend Weighs In On Potential Signing
The Patriots have several ways they can approach free agency starting next week. However, Hogan believes that paying top wide receiver money for Pierce would not be the right move to make.
No! I’m not paying $30 million for someone to run go routes. If you’re gonna come in and you’re gonna be able to be multiple in this offense and get open versus press, get slants, make the contested catches—not just go routes and deep routes… Kid’s a very talented receiver.Now, I could be totally wrong in saying this. Maybe he can do those things and he wasn’t featured in Indianapolis’ offense. That could be a thing too. Maybe they bring him for a workout, have a different perspective on what he’s able to do.
Pierce is coming off a 2025 season that saw him produce at a high level. He recorded seven receptions for 1,003 yards and six touchdowns last year. The receptions and yards were all career-highs for him. He was also able to record 21.3 yards per catch, which led the league.
Pierce is 25 years old, and could be an option that the Patriots build around for the coming years. He is a dynamic deep-play threat, having led the league in yards per reception for two consecutive seasons.
The Patriots have reportedly wanted to make a blockbuster move at the wide receiver position. Recent reports from Ian Rapoport indicated that the Patriots were “clearing the decks” for a potentially big move.
Hogan’s opinion should certainly not be discounted here. After all, he was a major player for multiple successful Patriots teams. He appeared in 40 regular-season games as a Patriot and recorded 1,651 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns. His best season came in 2016, when he recorded 38 receptions for 680 yards and four touchdowns.
Hogan Was Playmaker For Patriots
Hogan was also a solid postseason performer. He recorded 542 receiving yards and four touchdowns over the course of nine postseason games. He set a Patriots franchise record in the 2016 AFC Championship Game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The playamker had nine catches for 180 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
Hogan’s opinion is certainly valid. It’s not as if he doesn’t know what it takes to win. He was able to perform at a high level for multiple seasons. However, he may be a bit off base here. Pierce has a strong route tree and can offer a wide variety of routes. Much of the Colts’ offense was designed to make the big play. This required Pierce to get downfield quickly, often showcasing his speed on go-routes. However, he is not as limited in his skill set.
It will be interesting to see what the price point for Pierce is. The Patriots may be willing to pay it, given their need for a top wide receiver. It may be worth paying the price for Pierce, as quarterback Drake Maye needs a top wide receiver and a playmaker. The asking price may be high, but much of it depends on market conditions. It appears that the Patriots are prepared to make a big move, despite some not being as high on him.
Danny Jaillet Danny Jaillet is a sportswriter with more than 15 years experience in the industry. He has been featured on Fox Sports, USA Today, and Yahoo Sports among others. He graduated from Worcester State University with a B.A. in communications and a minor in writing. More about Danny Jaillet
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