A Colts player is expected to cash in on a major payday this offseason, whether it’s in Indianapolis or somewhere else
The Colts are playing with fire the longest they wait to extend a key player on their roster.
The Indianapolis Colts have multiple players balling out on the last year of their contracts. One is their former second-round pick, WR Alec Pierce. Pierce has shown improvements every year in the NFL and is having arguably the best year of his career this season. NFL insider Jeremy Fowler ranked him as one of the top upcoming free agents and shared some insights on how much he could make on his next contract.
NFL insider shares that Alec Pierce could fetch $20 million annually this offseason
“Teams I’ve talked to anticipate Pierce will hit a big number in free agency. They think the $20 million per year threshold isn’t out of the question for him. Pierce is poised for his first 1,000-yard season and has the size/speed combination teams covet. The Colts have decisions to make on offense. If they pay Daniel Jones — who has chemistry with Pierce — do they let Pierce walk? Much of that will depend on how Pierce’s market develops. The Colts typically don’t do extensions during the season.” – ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler
I’m not surprised at all to hear Pierce could net $20 million a year on his next deal. While some may think that is too much, it makes sense. Pierce led the Colts in receiving last season and could be on the verge of his first 1,000-yard season. He has developed into one of the top deep threat WRs in the NFL, and I personally think he is vital to the success of a Daniel Jones-led offense.
Jones has been very efficient under center for the Colts, but his deep ball has been an area of concern. He often leaves deep throws short and hasn’t hit WRs in stride, which forces the target to win a 50-50 ball to complete the catch. Pierce is one of the best in the league at coming down with the ball in those situations, and taking him out of the equation would kill the Colts’ explosive passing game as it’s constructed now.
I would be shocked if the Colts elected not to extend Pierce and instead let him walk in free agency, especially after the reports that they shopped WR Adonai Mitchell at the trade deadline before he was ultimately sent to the New York Jets as part of the team’s acquisition of Sauce Gardner.
As Fowler shared, the Colts don’t typically extend players in-season, but they should make an exception for Pierce, who has proven himself vital to the team’s future. If $20 million a year would get a deal done, the Colts should offer a three-year $60 million contract right now and lock up a key young player on their roster.
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