The Indianapolis Colts were pretty much broke to start free agency. Their cash was tied up in a transition tag and bloated contracts. Just like anyone who has found themselves short of cash but wanting to buy something, sacrifices have to be made. For the Colts to sign Alec Pierce to a monster free agent contract, Michael Pittman Jr. was that sacrifice. It was a bold statement from the franchise that they hope is the right one.
Pierce’s contract vaults him into the stratosphere of the elite. He turned
it on so much last year that he made himself the belle of the ball for teams needing a receiver. It was quite the turnaround for a guy whose only claim to fame was the deep ball, but Pierce has started to round out nicely and just in time. He got the payday he wanted and got it from the team he most wanted it from. He will now have to take his game to the next level to truly earn it.
Meanwhile, Pittman had grown too expensive for the level of production he put on the field. His targets, receptions, and yards all tumbled over the last two years. He battled injury in 2024 but was unable to bounce back to form last year. That made him expendable. The Colts chose to unload him on Pittsburgh and received a sixth round pick as part of a swap for their troubles. Pittman played an important role, but it was clear to see he might be losing some of his effectiveness. The Colts were backed into a corner and shedding his contract was the only way out.
The deal is done, so the Colts have to hope they made the right decision. Not only do they have to hope picking Alec Pierce over Michael Pittman was the correct call, but they are banking on Pierce being worthy of such a contract. It’s a bit startling to see Pierce get the bag, but the market dictates the price. This isn’t to say he didn’t deserve to get paid, but at that level, he has some work to do. Time will tell if this was the right call. With how professional sports is judged, that time will be sooner rather than later.
