NFL Free Agency is right around the corner, and although this year’s class is not as deep as past years, some real talent remains for teams in search of that final piece of the puzzle.
A relatively thin free agency class of 2026 means playmakers could see large markets, with a significant pay raise coming their way. Experts believe that this 17-touchdown wide receiver could see tons of interest, with two AFC teams emerging as possible suitors.
Two AFC Teams Expected to Make a Run at Colts WR Alec Pierce in Free Agency
Following four seasons in the NFL after being drafted in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts, WR Alec Pierce is expected to hit free agency when the official window opens on March 11.
NFL analyst Mina Kimes has urged two AFC teams to make a push for the playmaker in order to add a deep ball threat to their young quarterbacks’ arsenal.
Alec Pierce is one of the most intriguing names in free agency.
Quite a few teams could use him…like New England 👀 pic.twitter.com/CJpH1eGYQm
— Mina Kimes (@minakimes) February 18, 2026
“If I’m looking at teams like New England, Tennessee, like there’s so many teams where if you got a big-armed quarterback, I feel like he’s so appealing as a free agent,” Kimes said in a clip posted to her X account.
Pierce is coming off the best season of his career in 2025. The wide receiver recorded 47 receptions for 1003 receiving yards, both the highest totals of his career.
Pierce also averaged 21.3 yards per reception, leading the league in this category for the second consecutive season. Pierce added to his career year by catching 6 touchdowns, which improved his career total to 17.
Pierce could prove to be an elite addition for quarterbacks such as Drake Maye or Cam Ward, two young quarterbacks unafraid to sling it downfield.
Kimes also explained how highly touted she expects Pierce to be if he reaches the free agency market, pointing to how highly teams value explosive, deep-threat playmakers out wide.
“You just cannot in the NFL overestimate how much teams value explosive players. The thing I’ll add about him, he’s not just like a speed burner, separator; he wins with size too. Like some of these catches are contested catches, he’s got good concentration downfield. He’s a much more complete player, maybe, than people give him credit for.” Kimes said.
According to PFSN’s WR Impact Metric, Pierce accumulated a score of 84.6 (B), which ranked ninth among wide receivers. This places Pierce as the sixth-best available free agent and the second-best available wide receiver, according to PFSN’s Free Agent Tracker.
Pierce signed a four-year rookie deal worth just over $6.6 million back in 2022 and is now expected to see a huge pay raise in free agency with a contract expected to be in the $20M-$25M range.
Teams like the Patriots and Titans could emerge as strong suitors once free agency opens, but for the young and explosive wide receiver, it is doubtful that those two teams will be in the race alone.
