Alec Pierce certainly hasn’t developed into a superstar. However, the Indianapolis Colts should not look to trade him this offseason. No, the young wide receiver isn’t the next Jerry Rice or Randy Moss, but he’s brimming with potential. Pierce played his college ball with the Cincinnati Bearcats, catching passes from current Atlanta Falcons quarterback Desmond Ridder. He was later selected by the Colts in the second round (53rd overall pick) of the 2022 NFL Draft. As a rookie in Indianapolis, Pierce started 12 of his 16 games. He had 41 receptions for 593 yards and two touchdowns. The Chicago area native was expected to have a breakout year this season. Yet, he was a major disappointment, producing just 32 catches for 514 yards and two touchdowns in 17 contests (16 starts).
Indianapolis Colts Shouldn’t Let Go of Alec Pierce Just Yet
Don’t Worry, Reggie Wayne Also Had a Slow Start
Drafted by Indianapolis in 2001, Reggie Wayne went on to become a Colts legend. He played 14 seasons in Indy, catching passes from Peyton Manning and then Andrew Luck later on in his career. The former Miami Hurricanes star made six Pro Bowls and helped the Colts win Super Bowl XLI over the Chicago Bears.
Wayne, who should eventually make the Pro Football Hall of Fame, was a great receiver. However, his career didn’t get off to a legendary start. During his first two seasons in the league, Wayne had only a total of 76 receptions for 1,061 yards and four touchdowns. Meanwhile, Pierce’s numbers are about the same: 73 receptions for 1,107 yards and four touchdowns in two seasons.
With that said, there’s still hope for Pierce to become a star with the Colts. Sometimes players get off to a slow start before turning the corner and developing into a Pro-Bowl-caliber receiver. Sure, he more than likely won’t have a Reggie-Wayne type of career, but he has the potential to be something special.
Alec Pierce is Primed for a Breakout 2024 Season
Pierce played with Gardner Minshew for the majority of this season. Minshew doesn’t generally look downfield and lacks a cannon arm, which is needed for a deep-threat receiver like Pierce to excel.
Speaking of a cannon arm, that’s exactly what Anthony Richardson possesses. Richardson, the rookie quarterback out of Florida, went down with a season-ending shoulder injury in Week 5. He’ll return to the field next season, giving Pierce a lot more opportunities to get deep-ball receptions. Don’t be shocked if Pierce has a breakout year in 2024 with Richardson under center. You can’t label Pierce a bust just yet. He’s only 23 years old and has just two seasons under his belt.
Pierce has had a couple of memorable moments since entering the league. For example, he had a 32-yard, game-winning TD catch against the Jacksonville Jaguars as a rookie. He came up with his first career 100-yard effort versus the Tennessee Titans in 2023. During that Titans contest, Pierce opened the game with a 36-yard touchdown and later made a beautiful over-the-shoulder catch for a 55-yard gain in overtime. It was easily his best performance as a pro.
If Pierce can be consistent and find a way to create separation, he can develop into a dangerous offensive weapon for the Colts. The team has talented receivers in Michael Pittman Jr. (if he re-signs) and rookie Josh Downs. Pierce can become an ideal No. 3 receiver or possibly even a No. 2. But for that to happen, the Colts need to keep him around.
Main Photo: Robert Scheer/IndyStar-USA TODAY NETWORK
