Colts re-sign Alec Pierce to massive contract
Colts re-sign Alec Pierce to massive contract
Jacob Camenker, USA TODAY Mon, March 9, 2026 at 4:16 PM UTC
0
Top free agent wide receiver receiver Alec Pierce will be returning to the Indianapolis Colts for the 2026 NFL season.
Pierce has agreed to a four-year, $114 million contract with the Colts in NFL free agency, according to NFL Media's Ian Rapoport.
Pierce – a second-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft – is coming off a his best season as a pro. He led the Colts with 1,003 receiving yards and logged a career-best 47 catches while adding six touchdowns to his ledger.
The wide receiver (6-3, 211 pounds) also led the NFL in both average depth of target (20) and yards per reception (21.3) for a second consecutive season.
He routinely showed off both quality deep speed and excellent contested catching abilities while logging a passer rating of 113.7 when targeted, which ranked 11th-best in the NFL, per Pro Football Focus.
Many believed the Colts would slap Pierce with the franchise tag to prevent the soon-to-be 26-year-old from hitting the open market. However, Indianapolis instead opted to use the transition tag on quarterback Daniel Jones, preventing them from tagging Pierce and giving him an opportunity to reach the open market.
Advertisement
Even so, the Colts managed to retain Pierce on a big-money contract. Now, the Cincinnati product will continue in his role as Indianapolis' top receiving option for the 2026 NFL season.
1 / 02026 NFL offseason tracker: Player signings, trades
OT Tytus Howard: Traded to Cleveland Browns (previous team: Houston Texans)
Alec Pierce contract details
Below are the full details about the reported value of Pierce's contract with the Colts:
Term: 4 years
Total value: $114 million
Average annual value (AAV): $28.5 million
Guaranteed money: $84 million
Pierce's deal with the Colts makes him the 11th-highest-paid receiver in the NFL in terms of average annual value (AAV) and ninth-highest-paid in terms of total contract value.
Colts WR depth chart
Below is a look at where Pierce will fit in on Indianapolis' current depth chart
Alec Pierce
Michael Pittman Jr.
Josh Downs
Ashton Dulin
Anthony Gould
Highest-paid NFL wide receivers
Below is a look at the NFL's highest-paid receivers in AAV and total contract value, per OverTheCap.com:
AAV -
Ja'Marr Chase, Bengals: $40.25 million
Justin Jefferson, Vikings: $35 million
CeeDee Lamb, Cowboys: $34 million
DK Metcalf, Steelers: $33 million
Garrett Wilson, Jets: $32.5 million
A.J. Brown, Eagles: $32 million
Amon-Ra St. Brown: $30.003 million
Brandon Aiyuk, 49ers: $30 million
Terry McLaurin, Commanders: $29 million
Tee Higgins, Bengals: $28.75 million
Total contract value -
Ja'Marr Chase, Bengals: $161 million
Justin Jefferson, Vikings: $140 million
CeeDee Lamb, Cowboys: $136 million
DK Metcalf, Steelers: $132 million
Garrett Wilson, Jets: $130 million
Amon-Ra St. Brown, Lions: $120.01 million
Brandon Aiyuk, 49ers: $120 million
Tee Higgins, Bengals: $115 million
Alec Pierce, Colts: $114 million
DJ Moore, Bears: $110 million
Alec Pierce stats
Below is a look at Pierce's stats across his career to date.
Games: 64
Targets: 296
Receptions: 157
Receiving yards: 2,934
Receiving TDs: 17
Yards per reception: 18.7
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Alec Pierce, Colts agree to 2026 NFL free agency contract: Details
Source: “AOL Sports”
