The San Francisco 49ers and New England Patriots both had strong seasons last year. Their success stemmed from their efficient and explosive offenses. However, there is a certain player that either unit could add to further elevate their offense.
What Alec Pierce Adds to the San Fransico 49ers and New England Patriots Offense
That player is wideout Alec Pierce, who is set to be a free agent. As ESPN Writer Jeremy Fowler said, “Pierce appears poised to make at least $27 million per year on a new deal.” Fowler also floated the 49ers and Patriots as possible landing spots for the wide receiver.
Pierce is coming off a strong season with the Indianapolis Colts, ranking No. 9 among all receivers in PFSN’s WR Impact metric with an 84.6 grade. Pierce ranked second in the NFL in yards per target (11.9) behind only New England Patriots wideout Kayshon Boutte.
Last year, the Colts’ offense ranked fifth in the NFL according to the PFSN NFL Offense Impact metrics. The fact that Pierce was one of the standout players on a great offense shows how truly impressive his season was.
With Boutte already on the team, if the Patriots brought in Pierce, the two could form a deadly downfield duo. With the superb arm of quarterback Drake Maye and his impressive deep ball, there is a chance that New England could have one of the best deep passing attacks in the NFL.
Additionally, the Patriots will need a wide receiver to be their number one after releasing Stefon Diggs. Pierce could fit this role in New England for the long term. When the 2026 NFL season starts in September, Maye will be 24 and Pierce will be 26.
Even though New England is coming off a Super Bowl appearance, the AFC could get tougher. Especially in the Patriots’ own division, the AFC East, where the Buffalo Bills recently traded for receiver DJ Moore. So by the Patriots signing Pierce, it would be a great way to stay competitive.
While on the topic of teams in tough divisions, the 49ers would benefit from adding Pierce. The 49ers have wideout Ricky Pearsall, who had a good year and earned a B- grade in the PFSN NFL WR Impact metrics. However, the main issue with Pearsall was injury, as he only played 9 games in the 2025 season.
Pierce, during his time in the NFL, has been widely available, playing in 64 of 68 games. The 49ers dealt with injuries across the roster last season, as edge rusher Nick Bosa, linebacker Fred Warner, and quarterback Brock Purdy all missed significant time. So adding a player with a great health reputation would be a plus for San Francisco.
49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan has proven he can be creative with play calling. Shanahan could use Pierce’s excellent downfield ability in unique ways, making it tough for opposing teams to stop.
Overall, no matter where Pierce ends up, he has the tools needed to make a big impact.
