Report: Colts told Pierce he'll remain in Indy on tag or long-term deal
The Indianapolis Colts have informed pending free-agent wide receiver Alec Pierce that he won't hit the open market, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano.
Indianapolis will reportedly place the franchise tag on Pierce if the two sides can't agree on a long-term extension before the new league year begins on March 11. The tag price would be around $27 million for a one-year, fully guaranteed deal.
Pierce has been with the Colts since they selected him in the second round of the 2022 draft. He's coming off a career year in which he posted 47 receptions for 1,003 yards and six touchdowns.
The 25-year-old led the NFL in yards per reception each of the last two years. He's also just the second player since 1982 to record back-to-back campaigns with at least six receiving touchdowns and an average of 20-plus yards per catch, according to NFL Network's Gregg Rosenthal.
Quarterback Daniel Jones, who helped Pierce record his first 1,000-yard receiving season in 2025, is set to become an unrestricted free agent as well. Jones would also be a tag candidate if he can't reach an agreement with the team, according to Fowler and Graziano. The 28-year-old tore his Achilles in early December after leading the Colts to an 8-5 record in 13 starts.
Unrestricted free agents can begin negotiating with teams when the tampering window opens on March 9.