The Indianapolis Colts face several key roster decisions this offseason, including what to do with a wide receiver coming off a breakout campaign. As the possibility of free agency approaches, one of Indianapolis’ defensive stars recently weighed in on the situation.
Sauce Gardner Jokes About Keeping Alec Pierce in Indianapolis
Cornerback Sauce Gardner shared a hilarious idea on social media about how the Colts could keep free-agent wide receiver Alec Pierce from leaving the team. “Should I lock Alec Pierce in my basement and force him to sign the contract papers?” Gardner wrote.
The post quickly circulated online, highlighting how much Pierce’s presence matters to the team as the offseason unfolds.
Gardner arrived in Indianapolis last season after the Colts sent two first-round picks to the New York Jets to acquire the star cornerback. The aggressive move reflected the franchise’s confidence in its roster at the midpoint of the 2025 season.
That confidence was fueled in part by quarterback Daniel Jones’s play. Through the first 10 games, Jones threw for 2,659 yards and 15 touchdowns while ranking fifth in PFSN’s QB Impact Metric as the Colts surged to an 8-2 start.
However, the season quickly unraveled after Jones suffered a fractured fibula late in the year, followed by an Achilles injury. Indianapolis struggled down the stretch and ultimately missed the playoffs, leaving the franchise with several key offseason questions.
But the Colts already moved to stabilize the quarterback position by placing the transition tag on Jones. The rarely used designation gives Indianapolis the right to match any offer sheet Jones signs in free agency. If no deal materializes, Jones would earn a fully guaranteed one-year salary of $37.833 million in 2026.
Pierce enters the offseason after the most productive season of his career. The former second-round pick recorded 47 receptions for 1,003 receiving yards across 15 games in 2025.
For much of his time in Indianapolis, Pierce showed flashes of big-play ability but struggled to consistently turn that potential into production. That changed last season when his role in the offense became more clearly defined. With steadier quarterback play and more opportunities downfield, Pierce delivered the first 1,000-yard season of his career.
His breakout performance now places him among the most intriguing wide receivers expected to hit free agency. Only George Pickens ranks ahead of him among projected available wideouts, though Pickens was franchise tagged by the Dallas Cowboys.
That potential demand explains why Gardner’s joke resonated with fans. Keeping Pierce in Indianapolis would preserve continuity for an offense that showed real promise before injuries derailed the Colts’ season.
