Alec Pierce is one of the Indianapolis Colts’ key offensive players, making a trade this offseason unlikely. However, Matthew Schmidt of Sports Illustrated proposed a scenario where the Colts deal the wide receiver to the Carolina Panthers:
“The Carolina Panthers must find weapons for Bryce Young however they can this offseason. The challenge is their limited cap space, meaning they may need to explore creative trades for players still on rookie contracts. That’s why Carolina might consider reaching out to the Indianapolis Colts about Alec Pierce.”
Despite this speculation, a trade involving Pierce—whether to the Panthers or any other team—remains improbable. The Chicago-area native is a valuable asset the Colts should retain.
The Indianapolis Colts Should Not Trade Alec Pierce This Offseason
His Career Thus Far
Alec Pierce played three seasons with the Cincinnati Bearcats, where he developed chemistry with quarterback Desmond Ridder, now with the Las Vegas Raiders. In his senior year, Pierce hauled in 52 receptions for 884 yards and eight touchdowns, earning second-team All-American Athletic Conference honors. Over his college career, he amassed 106 catches, 1,851 receiving yards, and 12 touchdowns.
The Indianapolis Colts selected Pierce with the 53rd overall pick in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft. As a rookie, he recorded 41 receptions for 593 yards and two touchdowns. Despite expectations of improvement in his second season, his production dipped in 2023, finishing with 32 catches, 514 yards, and two touchdowns.
Entering the 2024 season, some labeled Pierce a bust, but he silenced his critics with a breakout campaign. He caught 37 passes for 824 yards and seven touchdowns, leading the league with an impressive 22.3 yards per reception.
Why the Colts Shouldn’t Trade Alec Pierce
Alec Pierce has established himself as one of the Colts’ top offensive weapons, shedding the “bust” label and proving his doubters wrong.
Set to hit free agency in 2026, Pierce’s long-term future with Indianapolis is uncertain. Matthew Schmidt suggested that the Colts may not re-sign him:
“It seems relatively unlikely that Indianapolis will re-sign Pierce next offseason, so it may want to trade him now to recoup some assets for him and open up more playing time for Mitchell.”
While it’s possible that the Colts move on from Pierce, that likely depends on his performance in 2025. If he continues to improve, he could be in line for a career-best season.
With Michael Pittman Jr. and Josh Downs alongside him, Pierce helps form a strong receiving corps for quarterback Anthony Richardson. And Adonai Mitchell, despite a disappointing rookie campaign, still has the potential to develop into an impact player.
Pierce thrives as a deep-threat receiver, capable of electrifying the crowd with long touchdown catches from Richardson. Given his value to the team, the Colts shouldn’t trade him this offseason—unless they receive an offer too good to pass up.