NEWYou can now listen to PK Press Club articles!
The Indianapolis Colts kept one of their receivers in free agency, but also shipped one out.
Alec Pierce, who reportedly had offers elsewhere, is staying with the Colts after agreeing to terms on a four-year, $116 million contract, making him the highest-paid free agent wide receiver in NFL history, according to multiple reports.
Pierce receives $84 million in guarantees, including $60 million fully guaranteed at signing.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON PK Press Club
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (11) looks on during the NFL football game between the Indianapolis Colts and the Pittsburgh Steelers on November 2, 2025 at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Mark Alberti/Icon Sportswire)
After news of Pierce broke free agency, the Colts completed a trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers, sending veteran wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. in exchange for a trade of late-round picks, which has not yet been announced.
With Pittman’s contract set to be up after this year, the Steelers reportedly signed him to a new three-year, $59 million contract to keep him around for the foreseeable future.
DOLPHINS APPEAR TO FIND TUA TAGOVAILOA REPLACEMENT AS FREE AGENCY OPENS
The Steelers needed wide receiver help to go along with DK Metcalf, who they traded for last season with the Seattle Seahawks. The big question is who will be throwing passes for them this season, as all eyes are on quarterback Aaron Rodgers and whether a reunion with new head coach Mike McCarthy, with whom he spent years in Green Bay while playing for the Packers, is in the cards.
For the Colts, Pierce is someone who had a breakout season in 2025, seeing his first 1,000+ yard campaign on just 47 catches, showing off his deep ball threat abilities with Daniel Jones as the team’s new quarterback. Pierce quickly became one of the best deep ball players in the NFL, and the Colts knew that aspect of his game made their offense a threat.
They definitely paid him as such to ensure he didn’t pursue other options on the market. Then again, he told ESPN’s “The Pat McAfee Show” how much he wanted to stay put.
Alec Pierce of the Indianapolis Colts catches a touchdown pass against Derek Stingley Jr. #24 of the Houston Texans during the second quarter of the game at NRG Stadium on January 4, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Tim Warner/Getty Images)
“I knew where my heart was,” he said on the show. “I loved the city of Indianapolis. I just saw where we were last year, early in the year, kind of. I honestly believe we were the No. 1 team in the NFL and obviously didn’t finish the season the way we should have.”
The Colts saw Jones suffer an Achilles injury, knocking him out for the rest of the year at the worst possible time. Philip Rivers was even called upon to make his shocking return to the field, but the Colts couldn’t make the playoffs despite an 8-2 start.
Jones earned the transition title from the Colts this offseason, which allowed Indianapolis to heavily pursue Pierce, knowing they should have their quarterback back for the 2026 campaign.
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce looks on during the game between the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Indianapolis Colts on December 7, 2025 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida. (David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire)
While Jonathan Taylor sets the tone in the Colts backfield, Pierce stretches the defense with his threat to go long, with 36.2% of his receptions going for 20 yards or more in 2025.
At the same time, the Steelers and McCarthy know that Pittman is a reliable pair of hands, ready to do the dirty work in the short and middle to move the chains and provide a physical presence no matter the assignment with his 6-foot-4 frame.
